American Dream: The 21 Savage Story official trailer – Donald Glover plays the rapper who was born in London, jailed in the US and freed with the help of his fans

21 Savage released the official trailer for his upcoming biopic, American Dream: The 21 Savage Story, on Monday.

The 31-year-old rapper has enlisted Donald Glover and Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin to portray him in his memoir, which documents his incarceration in 2019.

Since he was raised in Atlanta but born in London, the story follows his arrest, being held for several weeks and threats of deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

21 Savage — whose full name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph — was ultimately released with the help of the Free 21 Savage campaign and was have been able to remain in the states.

The preview also showcases new music, a highly anticipated release as he had not dropped a solo album since 2018.

21 Savage released the official trailer for his upcoming biopic, American Dream: The 21 Savage Story, on Monday

The 31-year-old rapper has enlisted Donald Glover and Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin to portray him in his memoir, which documents his incarceration in 2019

He has, however, released two collaborative albums — Savage Mode II with Metro Boomin in 2020 and Her Loss with Drake in 2022 — and has continued touring and performing.

After the four-year immigration saga, he performed for the first time outside of America as the opening act of Drake’s It’s All A Blur concert in Toronto. 

The trailer begins with McLaughlin portraying a young 21 Savage facing discrimination as he moves to America at the age of seven with his mother.

‘These people, they think we’re savages,’ a woman’s voice is heard saying over a clip of police officers separating her from him.

The scene fades into a shot of the silhouette of Glover portraying him and walking into a dark room and then the image of car on fire sitting in an empty parking lot.

‘Remember your wishing star,’ she says. ‘Whenever you feel lost, just remember I’m looking up at that same star. That star is your dream. And they can never take it.’

Music then starts playing as a scene of 21 Savage in an interrogation room begins.

He paces across the dimly lit room before sitting down across from McLaughlin, portraying a younger version of him, and wearing a ski mask.

The trailer begins with McLaughlin portraying a young 21 Savage facing discrimination as he moves to America at the age of seven with his mother. He portrays 21 Savage as he gets his passport stamped and journeys across the Atlantic aboard a boat while wearing a tag that just reads ’21’

He goes to high school, gets bullied by his classmates and later approaches the same bullies while sporting a black eye

He faces his bullies while brandishing a gun in one scene 

He seemingly goes down a path of violence as he commits a robbery with his friends but a later scene shows him watching local rappers perform in his hometown

Watching them perform inspires him to ultimately pursue a music career

The trailer also shows him getting his very first face tattoo

A young 21 Savage is seen with his trademark dagger placed right between his eyes

He portrays 21 Savage as he gets his passport stamped and journeys across the Atlantic aboard a boat while wearing a tag that just reads ’21’.

He goes to high school, gets bullied by his classmates and later approaches the same bullies while sporting a black eye but this time brandishing a gun.

He seemingly goes down a path of violence as he commits a robbery with his friends but a later scene shows him watching local rappers perform in his hometown and inspiring him to pursue a music career.

The trailer also shows him getting his very first face tattoo — his trademark dagger placed right between his eyes.

Previously, he revealed to The Fader in 2016 that it was an ode to his late little brother Tayman and was inspired by Tony Montana’s blade tattoo in Scarface.

Then, Glover takes over the role as an older 21 Savage and appears in the interrogation room.

A scene plays of him walking into a club and seeing record producer Metro Boomin — played by Jabari Banks — as he DJs in a club full of scantily clad dancers.

After meeting, they start writing music and making hits together in the studio. 

Then, Glover takes over the role as an older 21 Savage and appears in the interrogation room

21 Savage raps as he faces his younger self in the interrogation room

A scene plays of him walking into a club and seeing record producer Metro Boomin — played by Jabari Banks — as he DJs in a club full of scantily clad dancers

After meeting, they start writing music and making hits together in the studio

Glover also recreates the viral and vastly memeified snapshot of 21 Savage on ESPN’s Highly Questionable — during which, fans likened him to a supervillain as he posed with a sinister expression on his face

A scene shows his rap career taking off as he continues to create songs

He also films music videos depicting the hard life he grew up in

But then he is seen sitting in a car that explodes, foreshadowing things are about to take a dramatic turn

He is seen getting arrested by a team of ICE officers

Then, he sits in court with Haunting of Hill House’s Victoria Pedretti and Beef’s Young Mazino portraying his lawyers — who help him get back his freedom

Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne portraying a regal monarch knighting him with a sword

The fictional scene depicts his redemption and overcoming adversities 

Glover also recreates the viral and vastly memeified snapshot of 21 Savage on ESPN’s Highly Questionable — during which, fans likened him to a supervillain as he posed with a sinister expression on his face.

A scene shows his rap career taking off as he creates songs and music videos but then he is seen sitting in a car that explodes, foreshadowing things are about to take a dramatic turn.

He is seen getting arrested by a team of ICE officers and then sitting in court with Haunting of Hill House’s Victoria Pedretti and Beef’s Young Mazino portraying his lawyers — who help him get back his freedom.

Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne portraying a regal monarch knighting him with a sword.

The trailer ends with Savage with his arms wrapped around Glover and McLaughlin, who are both dressed as him. 

After the title appears, there is also a clip of him standing with his mother, Heather Carmillia Joseph, and his two sons, Kamari and Ashaad. (He is also a father to daughter Rhian, who does not appear in the trailer.) 

He also holds up his Grammy from the 62nd award ceremony in 2020 during which he won Best Rap Song for A Lot.

For the upcoming 66th annual Grammys on February 4, Savage has been nominated for a total of five awards.

The trailer ends with Savage with his arms wrapped around Glover and McLaughlin, who are both dressed as him

After the title appears, there is also a clip of him standing with his mother, Heather Carmillia Joseph, and his two sons, Kamari and Ashaad; he is also a father to daughter Rhian, who does not appear in the trailer

The end of the trailer also featured a clip of 21 Savage in the studio with Metro Boomin as he recalls how he earned his stage moniker

American Dream: The 21 Savage Story will be released on Independence Day 2024. Also according to the trailer, ‘music inspired by the film’ is set to drop on January 12

He is up for Best Rap Album for Her Loss; Best Rap Song as well as Best Rap Performance for Rich Flex; Best Melodic Rap Performance for both Sittin’ On Top Of The World as well as Spin Bout U.

The end of the trailer also featured a clip of 21 Savage in the studio with Metro Boomin recalling how he earned his stage moniker.

American Dream: The 21 Savage Story will be released on Independence Day 2024.

Also according to the trailer, ‘music inspired by the film’ is set to drop on January 12.