The tragedy that reignited conversations about justice and accountability is headed to theaters.
Aftershock: The Nicole P. Bell Story — inspired by the real-life killing of Sean Bell — will bring one of the most pivotal moments in America’s modern struggle against police brutality to the big screen on November 28, with a digital release to follow on December 15.
Starring Rayven Ferrell as Nicole Paultre Bell and Bentley Green as Sean Bell, the film recounts the heartbreaking events that unfolded on November 25, 2006, when 23-year-old Sean Bell was fatally shot by undercover NYPD officers just hours before his wedding day. The officers fired 50 rounds into his vehicle, injuring his friends Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman and sparking national outrage.
Written by Cas Sigers and Alesia “Z” Glidewell, who also makes her directorial debut, the film tells the story of love, loss, and resilience through Nicole’s eyes as she seeks justice after the tragic shooting that took Sean’s life. Also starring Richard Lawson as Reverend Al Sharpton, Kevin Jackson as Mr. Bell, Iyana Halley as Tila, and Richard T. Jones as Attorney Anthony Ricco, Aftershock revisits a moment that reignited national calls for accountability and police reform.
Produced by Manny Halley, Rodney Turner II, and Yolanda Halley under Manny Halley Productions, the film will be released via Faith Media Distribution on at least 500 screens nationwide — a significant rollout for the competitive holiday frame. Nicole Paultre Bell, Manny Halley, and Roc Nation serve as executive producers.
The True Story Behind the Film
On November 25, 2006, 23-year-old Sean Bell was fatally shot by undercover NYPD officers in Queens, New York — just hours before his wedding day. Bell and his friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were leaving a strip club when plainclothes officers fired 50 bullets into their car, killing Bell and seriously injuring his friends.
The shooting sparked immediate outrage across the country, echoing the 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo and reigniting conversations about systemic injustice and excessive force within law enforcement.
Despite the scale of the incident and widespread protest, the officers involved were acquitted of all charges, including manslaughter and reckless endangerment. The verdict devastated Bell’s family and community but also galvanized a new wave of activism.
Years before the phrase “Black Lives Matter” would become a global rallying cry, Sean Bell’s name became synonymous with the fight for justice and accountability.
Aftershock doesn’t just revisit the tragedy — it honors the humanity behind the headlines. Centering Nicole Paultre Bell’s experience, the film captures her grief, determination, and faith as she navigates life after an unimaginable loss.