'Sidney' Trailer: Sidney Poitier's Legacy Defined in Oprah-Produced Documentary

The groundbreaking legacy of Sidney Poitier is back on the big screen.

The documentary "Sidney," directed by Oscar nominee Reginald Hudlin ("Marshall"), focuses on Poitier's career as an actor, filmmaker, and activist during the civil rights movement. Interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz and Barbra Streisand frame the film, produced by Oprah Winfrey and Derik Murray in close collaboration with the Poitier family.

Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Network Entertainment are producing the Apple Original Movie, which will be released September 23 on AppleTV+ and in select theaters. Jesse James Miller wrote the documentary, with Terry Wood, Catherine Cyr, Brian Gersh, Paul Gertz, Reginald Hudlin, Joanna Shimkus Poitier, Anika Poitier and Barry Krost executive producing.

Poitier says in the trailer, "I left the Bahamas with this feeling of myself. And from the moment I got off the boat, America started telling me, 'You don't 're not who you think you are". There was a habit in Hollywood of using black people in the most disrespectful way. I said, "I can't play that."

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As Oprah also thinks in the trailer, "When you grow up in a community where everything you know is powerful and good, and it's black, there's no concept of race. That defines Sidney Poitier.”

An iconic titan of Hollywood, Poitier got his start in the 1940s at the American Negro Theater in Harlem. Poitier made history as one of the first black actors to appear alongside white actors in high-profile films. Poitier became the first black actor to win a Best Actor Oscar for 1963's "Lilies of the Field" and later starred in "In the Heat of the Night" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

The late actor passed away in January 2022 at the age of 94, with tributes from all over Hollywood.

Morgan Freeman, "Sidney was my inspiration, my guide, my friend."

Former President Barack Obama "Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier embodied dignity and grace, revealing the power of cinema to bring us together. He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to her family and her legion of fans."

Now the power of Poitiers' legendary life and legacy is captured in the upcoming documentary.

"Sidney" will premiere in select theaters and worldwide on Apple TV+ on September 23.

Check out the trailer below.

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