Concrete Cowboy trailer has Idris Elba saddling up for a powerful drama

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

An emotionally-charged trailer for Ricky Staub's father-son drama Concrete Cowboy has clip-clopped its way online. Inspired by the novel "Ghetto Cowboy" by G. Neri, Concrete Cowboy stars Idris Elba (Luther, Turn Up Charlie) and Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things, High Flying Bird) as a father and an estranged son, respectively, looking to find common ground as they navigate their strained relationship. Concrete Cowboy first premiered back at the Toronto International Film Festival in September to much acclaim.

Concrete Cowboy is directed by first-time feature filmmaker Ricky Staub, written by Ricky Staub and Dan Walser, and produced by Tucker Tooley, Lee Daniels, Idris Elba, Dan Walser, Jeff Waxman, and Jennifer Madeloff. Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, Clifford "Method Man" Smith, and members of the Fletcher Street Stables also co-star in this moving father-son drama about a teen caught between a life of crime and his estranged father’s vibrant urban-cowboy subculture.

Here's the official synopsis for Concrete Cowboy, per Netflix:

When fifteen-year-old Cole (Caleb McLaughlin) is expelled from school in Detroit, he is sent to North Philadelphia to live with Harp (Idris Elba), his estranged father. Harp finds solace in rehabilitating horses for inner-city cowboys at the Fletcher Street Stables, a real-life black urban horsemanship community that has provided a haven for the neighborhood residents for more than 100 years. Torn between his growing respect for his father's community and his reemerging friendship with troubled cousin Smush (Jharrel Jerome), Cole begins to reprioritize his life as the stables themselves are threatened by encroaching gentrification.

Well, I'll be damned if this movie doesn't look inspiring as all get out. Plus, look at the acting chops on McLaughlin in this trailer alone. He looks as if he's set to deliver a knock-out performance in Concrete Cowboy and I am here for it. I also must admit that I'm curious to learn more about the urban cowboy collective. How did I live in New York for 36 years and never hear of this group? Fascinating.

For more thoughts on Concrete Cowboy be sure to check out Chris Bumbray's full review from TIFF.

Concrete Cowboy premieres on Netflix on April 2nd.