Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free
Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke recently reached out to the star of Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman
Lee's latest recounts the story of Colorado Springs Police Department's first African-American detective Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) who, alongside cop Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), infiltrated and exposed the KKK while posing as racist extremists in the early 70s.
In the film, Grand Wizard Duke is played by Topher Grace.
The real-life Stallworth was interviewed by Lester Holt on NBC's Nightly News where he revealed Duke had contacted him the previous day, citing his respect for Do the Right Thing director Lee.
“The latest development was I got a phone call yesterday from David Duke,” said Stallworth. “He wanted to talk about the fact that he’s concerned about how he is going to be portrayed in this film. He’s only seen the trailer and in the trailer, it makes him off to be a buffoonish cartoonish idiot.”
After being asked if Duke is depicted fairly in the film, Stallworth said: ”In some areas, yeah. Spike made him look kind of stupid, but he was stupid in how this whole thing transpired 40 years ago.”
Surprisingly, Stallworth told Holt: “He complimented Spike. He said I’ve always respected Spike Lee. Which surprised the heck out of me.”
Lee's reply? “That’s a compliment I don’t need.”
Show all 25 1 /2525 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels 25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels The Meg Released: 10 August
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Cast: Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson
After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Skyscraper Released: 12 July
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Cast: Dwayne Jonson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han
FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader Will Sawyer is framed for setting fire to the tallest building in the world and must rescue his family who are trapped inside - at the top.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels First Reformed Released: 12 July
Director: Paul Schrader
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer
A priest of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns and a tormented past.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Disney's Christopher Robin Released: 17 August
Director: Marc Forster
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Jim Cummings (voice)
A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels The Happytime Murders Released: 17 August
Director: Brian Henson
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph
When the puppet cast of an '80s children's TV show begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes on the case.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels BlacKkKlansman Released: 24 August
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace
The film, produced by Get Out's Jordan Peele, is set in the early 70s and follows Washington's Ron Stallworth who, after becoming the first African-American detective on the Colorado Springs Police Department, sets out to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan while posing as a racist extremist.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Mile 22 Released: 27 August
Director: Peter Berg
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan, John Malkovich
An elite American intelligence officer, aided by a top-secret tactical command unit, tries to smuggle a mysterious police officer with sensitive information out of the country.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels The Miseducation of Cameron Post Released: 31 August
Director: Desiree Akhavan
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, John Gallagher Jr., Jennifer Ehle
In 1993, a teenage girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center by her conservative guardians.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels American Animals Released: 7 September
Director: Bart Layton
Cast: Evan Peters, Blake Jenner, Ann Dowd
Four young men mistake their lives for a movie and attempt one of the most audacious heists in U.S. history.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels City of Lies Released: 7 September
Director: Brad Furman
Cast: Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, Rockmond Dunbar
The film tells the story of American hero and former LAPD detective, Russell Poole as he works the 1997 murder cases of rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels A Simple Favour Released: 21 September
Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Blake Lively, Linda Cardellini, Anna Kendrick
A rare thriller from Bridesmaids director following a mummy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's sudden disappearance from their small town.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Fighting With My Family Released: 28 September
Director: Stephen Merchant
Cast: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Dwayne Johnson
A former wrestler and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids dream of joining World Wrestling Entertainment.
Lionsgate UK
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels The House with a Clock in Its Walls Released: 28 September
Director: Eli Roth
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, Kyle MacLachlan
A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels A Star Is Born Released: 5 October
Director: Bradley Cooper
Cast: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
A musician helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Venom Released: 5 October
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life.
Sony
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Bad Times at the El Royale Released: 12 October
Director: Drew Goddard
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, Nick Offerman
Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe's El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption - before everything goes to hell.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels First Man Released: 12 October
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Ryan gosling, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler
A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Mowgli Released: 19 October
Director: Andy Serkis
Cast: Rohan Chand, Benedict Cumberbatch (voice), Cate Blanchett (voice)
A human child raised by wolves must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins in this live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's novel.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Bohemian Rhapsody Released: 24 October
Director: Bryan Singer, Dexter Fletcher
Cast: Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello, Lucy Boynton
A chronicle of the years leading up to Queen's legendary appearance at the Live Aid (1985) concert in 1985.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Overlord Released: 25 October
Director: Julius Avery
Cast: Wyatt Russell, Iain De Caestecker, Pilou Asbæk
The story of two American soldiers behind enemy lines on D Day that may or may not be another film set in JJ Abrams’ Cloverfield world.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Widows Released: 9 November
Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Liam Neeson
Set in contemporary Chicago, amidst a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels White Man Rick Released: 7 December
Director: Yann Demange
Cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Matthew McConaughey, Eddie Marsan
The story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Mortal Engines Released: 14 December
Director: Christian Rivers
Cast: Hugo Weaving, Frankie Adams, Stephen Lang
Many years after the "Sixty Minute War," cities survive a now desolate Earth by moving around on giant wheels attacking and devouring smaller towns to replenish their resources.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Alita: Battle Angel Released: 26 December
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: Rosa Salazar, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Skrein
An action-packed story of one young woman's journey to discover the truth of who she is and her fight to change the world.
25 new films to look out for in 2018 that aren't sequels Holmes and Watson Released: 26 December
Director: Etan Cohen
Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Ralph Fiennes
A humorous take on Arthur Conan Doyle's classic mysteries featuring Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.
Columbia/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
BlacKkKlansman 's US release - 10 August - coincides with the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville riots which saw one woman die after a car drove into a crowd during a clash between white nationalists and anti-fascist protestors.
The film is released in UK cinemas on 24 August.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies