Ever wondered what Barack Obama was like in his twenties? Set in New York in 1981, when a 20-year-old Barack Obama transferred to Columbia University, the new Netflix biopic Barry explores the POTUS's university years in what Variety called a "bracingly authentic" portrayal of college life. The trailer shows Obama struggling to define his complicated racial and political identity as he embarks on a more epic journey of self-discovery than your typical university student. The film stars Australian actor Devon Terrell as young Obama, and co-stars Straight Outta Compton's Jason Mitchell, Ellar Coltrane of Boyhood fame, and Ashley Judd, among others.
Netflix picked up the rights to the film after its premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. The film's director, Vikram Gandhi, is a Columbia University album himself, and he reached out to a fellow Columbia grad, Adam Mansbach, to write the script.
Barry premieres on Netflix Friday, December 16, in time to send Obama off as we approach his last few weeks in the White House. Watch the trailer below.