Tyrese Gibson hosted an advanced screening of his new film, 1992, in New York City on August 15. The movie, which centers on a father trying to protect his son during the L.A. Riots, posed significant challenges for Gibson, both in its creation and in getting it released in theaters.
In a post-screening interview with Allhiphop.com’s Chuck Creekmur, Gibson discussed the difficulties he faced. “Nobody in Hollywood wanted to make this movie,” he said of the action thriller starring Scott Eastwood and the late Ray Liotta.
“Listen to me. I’m a movie star. I have $10 billion in box office on my name. When I attach my name to a movie, it happens. They spent years trying to get this movie made, but no streaming platform or studio in Hollywood was willing to take it on because the reality of growing up Black is a harsh truth that some people at studios just don’t want to accept. So, we made the movie independently.”
The film is personal for Tyrese
Born and raised in Watts, Tyrese expressed how personal the story is to him and why he felt compelled to see the film through. On April 29, 1992, a jury acquitted four Los Angeles police officers of assaulting motorist Rodney King and acquitted three of the four of using excessive force. The jury could not agree on a verdict for the fourth officer charged with using excessive force. As a result, residents of Los Angeles rioted in protest for six days.
“I lived this in ‘92…so this ain’t acting for me,” Tyrese said. “This is re-acting. I lived this. I remember this. I smelled the smoke. I remember the ashes all over the cars and the grass. My whole street was full of ashes. I remember everything.”
Tyrese further explained that the film was picked up by the Toronto Independent Film Festival (not to be confused with the Toronto International Film Festival), but was originally slated to go direct to video without a theatrical release. Gibson pushed back on that plan, particularly because 1992 features the last onscreen appearance from Goodfellas star Ray Liotta, who passed away in 2022.
“Ray Liotta left us with his last piece of art. That’s like doing a movie with Paul Walker and they trying to go straight to DVD with it in the middle of a film,” Tyrese said of his Fast & Furious co-star, who died in a car crash in 2013 while filming Fast & Furious 7. “I’m not doing that, bro.”
1992 eventually obtained distribution from Lionsgate Studios. Snoop Dogg on as an executive producer via Death Row Films, making this a reunion for Snoop and Tyrese. Both men starred in John Singleton’s 2001 film, Baby Boy.
Tyrese also revealed that he is releasing a double album, Beautiful Pain, to coincide with the film’s August 30 release date.
According to Tyrese, the album reflects on his divorce from ex Samantha Lee in 2020 and the passing of his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, who succumbed to COVID-19 on Valentine’s Day in 2022.