Proximity, 99% Invisible, and Warner Bros. present the “Judas and the Black Messiah Podcast,” an official film companion from the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX.

This episode contains spoilers. Watch the film and come back here to listen to all the fascinating behind the scenes details.

This is the last episode of our companion series. We’ll talk to Che Brooks and Stan McKinney - Black Panthers from the Illinois chapter who knew Chairman Fred. But first - Dominique Fishback. She stars as Deborah Johnson, whose name today is Mama Akua Njeri.

Proximity, 99% Invisible, and Warner Bros. present the “Judas and the Black Messiah Podcast,” an official film companion from the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX.

This episode contains spoilers. Watch the film and come back here to listen to all the fascinating behind the scenes details.

The very first face we see in Judas And The Black Messiah is not Chairman Fred Hampton’s. It’s the character of William O’Neal, played by LaKeith Stanfield. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at William O’Neal - the career criminal turned FBI informant who betrayed the Black Panthers and Chairman Fred Hampton.

Proximity, 99% Invisible, and Warner Bros. present the “Judas and the Black Messiah Podcast,” an official film companion from the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX.

This episode contains spoilers. Watch the film and come back here to listen to all the fascinating behind the scenes details.

Of all the relationships Chairman Junior built during his time on the film set, the one with Daniel Kaluuya was unique. Daniel stars as Chairman Fred Hampton Senior - the father Chairman Junior never met because he was assassinated three weeks before he was born. 

For much of Chairman Junior’s adult life, he’s been protective of his father’s legacy. So it was important to him that Daniel channel the spirit and power Chairman Senior was known for.