The first trailer has been released for Undercard, offering an early look at Wanda Sykes in her first major dramatic film role.
Directed by Tamika Miller, Undercard centers on Cheryl “No Mercy” Stewart (Sykes), a two-time former boxing champion and recovering alcoholic attempting to reconnect with the son she abandoned years earlier. The trailer introduces Cheryl as a woman reckoning with the consequences of her past—both inside and outside the ring—after years of estrangement from her now-grown son, Keith.
Keith, played by Bentley Green, is depicted as a gifted but troubled young fighter who has been navigating boxing without structure or formal training. As the footage reveals, Keith’s raw talent is undeniable, but his path forward is derailed when his gambling-addicted trainer abandons him following a damaging loss. With his career stalled and few options left, Keith turns to the one person who understands both boxing and self-destruction better than anyone: his mother.
The trailer highlights the tense and fragile nature of Cheryl and Keith’s relationship as they form an uneasy alliance. Cheryl steps into the role of trainer, preparing her son for a potential world title fight while also confronting the emotional damage caused by her absence. Rather than positioning the story solely around the championship bout, the trailer frames Undercard as a dual journey—Keith fighting for legitimacy in the ring, and Cheryl fighting for redemption as a parent.
The cast also includes William Stanford Davis, Xavier Mills, Roselyn Sánchez, Berto Colón, and Estella Kahiha.
Miller co-wrote the screenplay with Anita M. Cal, and the film is produced by Anne Clements, with Wanda Sykes also serving as an executive producer. The project draws inspiration from classic boxing dramas while shifting perspective by telling the story through the trainer’s point of view.
Undercard premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 27 through Seismic Releasing.
The newly released trailer is now available online.