Michael Jai White returns with his signature blend of action, comedy, and cultural depth in Trouble Man, his latest feature that premiered at the 2025 American Black Film Festival and will hit select theaters and digital platforms on August 1 via Samuel Goldwyn Films. Written, directed by, and starring White, the film is a modern-day reimagining that carries the spirit of 1970s Blaxploitation through a contemporary lens.
Set in Atlanta, Trouble Man follows Jaxen, a former cop turned private investigator, who’s hired to find a missing R&B superstar named Jahari. What begins as a standard job quickly spirals into a larger conspiracy that forces Jaxen to confront criminal threats, community challenges, and his own unresolved past. Along the way, he faces off against street crews, slick hustlers, and members of the Chinese mob—relying on sharp instincts, martial arts precision, and a dry sense of humor to survive.
The cast includes Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Mike Epps, La La Anthony, Orlando Jones, Gillian White, Arnold Chon, and Deldric Dunning. Behind the camera, the film benefits from the action direction of Joey Min and the choreography of Stephanie Pham and Angela Jordan. The result is a high-energy visual experience that blends stylized fight scenes with grounded storytelling.
Trouble Man is also the sixth on-screen collaboration between Michael Jai White and his wife, Gillian White. Their real-life chemistry enhances the emotional arcs of their characters, who share a complex past in the film. The story explores themes of accountability, second chances, and the strength of partnership—on and off the battlefield.
A standout aspect of the film is its deliberate inclusion of Black contributions to martial arts history. One pivotal scene includes a moment of education on African origins of kung fu, particularly the influence of Bodhidharma—often referred to as the “Black Monk”—whose teachings helped shape the Shaolin Temple’s martial arts traditions. The Whites perform Wing Chun throughout the film, a martial arts style developed by a woman, with technique overseen by Samuel Kwok, a direct student of Bruce Lee’s mentor, Ip Man.
This thoughtful layering of action, history, and culture is in line with White’s filmmaking approach—one that consistently uplifts stories grounded in Black identity and legacy. Trouble Man isn’t a remake of the 1972 classic, but it draws clear inspiration from its namesake, paying homage to characters like Robert Hooks’ original fixer while carving its own place in modern action cinema.
The film was written by Michael Jai White and Michael Stradford and produced by White alongside Craig Baumgarten and Ron Robinson. With humor, heart, and high-stakes showdowns, Trouble Man continues White’s legacy of building genre-defying films that prioritize authenticity and representation.
During a recent interview, the Whites also acknowledged the buzz surrounding Tyler Perry’s teased Why Did I Get Married 3 script—hinting that more news may be coming soon for fans of the franchise.