The Dutchman (2026 film)

The Dutchman (2026) is an American psychological thriller and drama directed by Andre Gaines. The film is a modern adaptation of Amiri Baraka’s acclaimed 1964 play Dutchman, bringing the original story’s themes of race, identity and power into a contemporary setting. The film stars André Holland as Clay, Kate Mara as Lula, Zazie Beetz as Kaya, and Stephen McKinley Henderson as Dr. Amiri.

The story follows Clay, a successful Black businessman whose marriage is struggling and who is also dealing with an identity crisis. While travelling on a New York subway, he encounters Lula, a mysterious woman whose increasingly disturbing behaviour draws him into a psychological game. As their encounter develops, Clay finds himself confronting unexpected threats that extend beyond the subway journey.

Andre Gaines directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Qasim Basir, adapting Baraka’s original play for the screen. The cast also includes Aldis Hodge as Warren and Lauren E. Banks as Gina, alongside Tracy Wilder, Lenny Platt and other supporting performers. The film was produced by Gaines and Jonathan Baker, with Cinemation Studios, Federal Films and Washington Square Films among the production companies.

The creative team includes Frank G. DeMarco as cinematographer, Joel Viertel as editor and Daniel Hart as composer. Filming took place in New York, including locations in Brooklyn. The production transforms Baraka’s stage work into a contemporary cinematic thriller while retaining the central confrontation between Clay and Lula.

The Dutchman premiered at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, 2025, before receiving a limited theatrical release in the United States on January 2, 2026. The film has a reported runtime of approximately 88 minutes in several listings, while some streaming platforms list an extended runtime of around 94 minutes.

Through its psychological thriller framework, The Dutchman examines the complicated relationship between race, identity and power in contemporary America. By adapting Amiri Baraka’s 1964 play for a modern audience, the film places its central confrontation within present-day New York while maintaining the provocative dramatic foundation of the original work.