Movies Jeffrey Wright is a fed-up author who writes a joke novel to huge acclaim in American Fiction trailer The film is based on Percival Everett's novel Erasure. By Gerrad Hall Gerrad Hall Gerrad Hall is an executive editor at Entertainment Weekly, overseeing TV, music, and awards coverage. He is also host of the daily What to Watch podcast and weekly video series, as well as The Awardist podcast. Gerrad also cohosts EW's live Oscars, Emmys, SAG, and Grammys red carpet shows, and he has appeared on Good Morning America, The Talk, Access Hollywood, Extra!, and other talk shows, delivering the latest news on pop culture and entertainment. EW's editorial guidelines Published on October 16, 2023 12:02PM EDT Thelonious "Monk" Ellison has had enough of trite, empty stories about the Black experience. The character, played by Jeffrey Wright, is at the center of the satirical dramedy American Fiction, which won the top prize at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Based on the Percival Everett novel Erasure, the movie — written and directed by Cord Jefferson (The Good Place, Watchmen) — follows Monk, a professor and author, who struggles to write his next book. Publishers want a "Black story" from him, but he's not interested, frustrated by the offensive stereotypes being perpetuated in pop culture. To prove his point, he decides to use a pen name to write a story about one man's experience — but his plan backfires, his book gets published, and readers are clamoring to know more about the author of the book. American Fiction also stars Tracee Ellis Ross and Sterling K. Brown as Monk's siblings, Leslie Uggams as their mom, Issa Rae as a fellow author, Erika Alexander as Monk's love interest, John Ortiz as his literary agent, and Adam Brody as a movie producer. The movie opens Dec. 15 in limited release and expands on Dec. 22. Watch the new trailer above. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: Oscars heat index: Poor Things, Priscilla eyeing potential Oscar nominations after fall festivals American Fiction movie director reveals book author Percival Everett's reaction to 'frightening' screening 23 of the best book adaptations of all time