We understand a good percentage of you were at the theater this weekend seeing either Barbie, Oppenheimer, or both at the same time, so understandably, you may not have had time to see what was new on streaming. In case you forgot, They Cloned Tyrone starring Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris also released on Netflix this past Friday, and should definitely be something to add to your watch list this week/weekend. The movie centers around a series of events (which obviously involves cloning) that leads three individuals onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy. Unlike some of our other reviews, this actually contains no spoilers. Instead we're giving you five facts you should know about the film before watching.
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'They Cloned Tyrone' is Modern Blaxploitation at its Finest
The movie is now available to stream via Netflix
Netflix
Sound cool? Bet.
1. This is Juel Taylor's directorial debut
Netflix
It's always nice to show a little love for a director making their respective directorial debut, which is yet another reason why you should watch They Cloned Tyrone. While Juel Taylor has co-writing credits on films such as 2018's Creed II and 2020's Space Jam: A New Legacy, They Cloned Tyrone is indeed his directorial debut.
2. Parts of the film are Inspired by Juel Taylor's life
Netflix
In an interview conducted with The New York Times, Juel Taylor revealed that parts of this film were inspired by elements of his life. He told The Times: "The actual story didn’t come until I figured out the character of Fontaine. In 2016, I reconnected with a friend from college. He had gotten arrested for something when we were 18 or 19 that ended up changing the course of his life. I had always been a little bit critical of him, because I thought he had so much potential, but in this conversation he revealed that he had been dealing with depression."
He continued: "I started thinking a lot about blame and responsibility and that’s when all the elements of the movie came together. A guy is having an identity crisis and he has to overcome circumstances that are genuinely beyond his control."
3. The film is set in the 1970s and features classic songs from that era
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There's no way They Cloned Tyrone could have been set in any era other than the 1970s with those afros and clothing, but the songs showcased during the film confirmed. Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," and Diana Ross' "Love Hangover" were just some of the few funkadelic fresh songs showcased during the movie.
4. They Cloned Tyrone was filmed in Atlanta
Netflix
Principal photography on They Cloned Tyrone began November 2020, with filming being done at Blackhall Studios in Atlanta, GA. Production on the film began wrapped in April 2021. If you're ever in the Atlanta area and drive by Blackhall Studios, be sure to remember They Cloned Tyrone was filmed in there.
5. Olivia Gude was the costume designer for They Cloned Tyrone
Netflix
The credits show Olivia Gude as the costume designer for They Called Tyrone. Gude also worked on 2022's The Valet and Candy. We must say the costumes were funky, retro, and everything we love about the 1970s decade as a whole, so major props to Ms. Gude.
You can watch They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix now.
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