Earlier this month, 21 Savage dropped an expensive-looking trailer for a film called American Dream: The 21 Savage Story. The clip starred Donald Glover and Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin as adult and child versions of the rapper. Now, as many fans and critics speculated, 21 Savage has confirmed that the whole thing was a joke.
When asked about the trailer on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast this week, the Atlanta artist referred to the clip as “a parody.” Sharpe, who had not been in on the joke, then asked 21 Savage if he thought his story was good enough to be adapted for the screen. “I feel like it could be,” 21 Savage replied. “One day.” Check out the conversation below around the 01:38:13 mark.
The faux trailer doubled as a music video for 21 Savage’s new song “American Dream,” which is the title track for his first solo LP since 2018’s I Am > I Was. The visual included references to his 2019 arrest by the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as his creative partnership and friendship with producer Metro Boomin (played by Jabari Banks in the teaser).
The clip was directed by Donald and Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori, and Fam Udeorji. Cast members for the fake movie included Natasha Lyonne, comedian Druski, Gail Bean, Chad Lindberg, Victoria Pedretti, and Young Mazino.