Surrounded puts Letitia Wright in front and centre of this Post Civil War Western. Many enslaved people faced discrimination and hardships despite being freed after the Civil War. Some women pretended to be men to secure jobs and avoid sexual assault.

Letitia Wright is fresh from her success in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. That movie made $859.2 million and now opened more opportunities for her.

Now she plays a strong yet vulnerable character in Surrounded, a historical drama written by Andrew Pagana and Justin Thomas. The movie marks a significant breakthrough for both writers.

Anthony Mandler, who primarily directs music videos, directs the movie and manages to assemble an impressive cast, including Jamie Bell, Brett Gelman, Jeffrey Donovan, Michael K. Williams, and Letitia Wright. The project represents Mandler’s most extensive career opportunity to date.

Surrounded Trailer

Moses “Mo” Washington (Letitia Wright) just wanted to have a new life. As a formerly enslaved person, Mo faced discrimination and hardships that lingered even after the Civil War. Desiring a fresh start, she decided to cross-dress and pose as a man to claim a goldmine. It was a risky move, but Mo saw it as an opportunity to establish herself as a free woman.

Mo had no illusions about how hard it would be to succeed in a male-dominated world, but she refused to be intimidated. Riding a stagecoach to the goldmine, Mo remained focused and determined, steeling herself for the challenges ahead.

However, her journey could have been smoother. A group of armed men surrounded and ambushed the stagecoach. As she continued her trials, fate would have her tasked with holding a dangerous outlaw captive. Mo had to survive the day, facing wave after wave of attack from the outlaws who had her surrounded. The other passengers seek help, and only Mo can help everyone to survive this dangerous situation. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will release Surrounded on digital this June 20, 2023.