Barry Jenkins unveils Beale Street trailer on James Baldwin's birthday

New York — Writer-director Barry Jenkins has unveiled the teaser trailer for his anticipated Moonlight follow-up, If Beale Street Could Talk, on the birthday of author James Baldwin.

If Beale Street Could Talk is based on Baldwin's celebrated 1974 novel. Debuting the trailer on Twitter, Jenkins wrote that the late author's birthday "has always been a day to pay tribute."

For me, August 2nd has always been a day to pay tribute, so... a teaser of what's to come. Happy Birthday, Jimmy ????????♥? pic.twitter.com/1Miu4jfWvg

— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) August 2, 2018

The trailer features the first look at the tale of a young Harlem woman, played by KiKi Layne, whose fiancé, played by Jesse Owens, is unjustly imprisoned. Baldwin's voice is heard over the trailer's images talking about wondering "what your role is in this country and what your future is in it."

If Beale Street Could Talk will premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival and open in theatres in the US on 30 November.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: