Don Cheadle Is Miles Davis In Trailer For Biopic ‘Miles Ahead’

The trailer for Miles Ahead, the Miles Davis biopic starring Don Cheadle in the titular role, has been released.

‘Miles Ahead’ Trailer

“If you gonna tell a story, come with some attitude, man,” are the first words out of Miles Davis’ mouth in the trailer. He’s talking to Rolling Stone reporter Dave Brill (Ewan McGregor), who is after a story about Davis’ hiatus from making music, and whatever recordings he may have recently started working.

The trailer indicates that Miles Ahead will be centered in 1979, the point at which it’s uncertain if Davis will get back to his music or not. Amidst his virtual musical paralysis, Davis is hellbent on tracking down session recordings that were stolen from him – with Brill’s help.

At one point, while Davis hits the piano keys in the trailer and Brill asks him if he studied piano in addition to the trumpet, Davis replies, “Just woke up black, and knew how to play.” Hinting at their playful rapport, Brill asks, “You’re black?”

Spaced throughout the trailer are bits of Davis’ wisdom about music that he shares with Brill: “Music … is all about improvisation,” “It takes a long time to be able to play like yourself” and “Don’t call it jazz man. That’s some made up word. It’s social music. ”

In addition to staring in Miles Ahead, Cheadle wrote and directed the film. He was led to the project by none other than Vince Wilburn, Davis’ nephew. ​”I had not been reaching out for this role in any way, shape or form,” Cheadle told Entertainment Weekly. “There was a pronouncement made, I guess — a proclamation — that I was going to play his uncle in a movie.”

Miles Ahead, Cheadle’s directorial debut, hits theaters April 1.