Letitia Wright and Nika King Shine at ‘Possum Trot’ Screening, Celebrating Its Breakout Success
Black Panther star Leticia Wright and Euphoria actor Nika King came together on October 7 to celebrate Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, also called simply Possum Trot. Greenlit in 2022, the drama film has come a long way in honoring a special community. Possum Trot made it to the big screen after donations funded the project, garnering positive reviews from critics and viewers.
The real story of the ‘Possum Trot’ movie
Possum Trot follows the true story of Bishop and First Lady Donna Martin and their tiny Bennett Chapel church, in the rural East Texas community of Possum Trot. There, 22 families linked arms and courageously adopted 77 of the most difficult-to-place children in the local foster care system. This ignited a national movement for vulnerable children that continues today.
The story gained national recognition for its themes of compassion and resilience. It also drew the attention of several production companies, including Peacetree and Threesixteen Productions. With a focus on capturing the authenticity and heart of the original events, the production was filmed in rural Texas to mirror the small-town environment of Possum Trot itself. The film was funded entirely by donations so the majority of profits can go to children and families in crisis.
Leticia Wright and Nika King shine in ‘Possum Trot’
The production team cast Letitia Wright and Nika King in the lead roles. They brought to life the emotional and inspiring journey of the community members who transformed countless children’s lives. Rotten Tomatoes‘ discerning critics rated the film 82% while verified audiences rated it 96% — both highly positive for a small-budget production.
One critic, Robert Roten of Laramie Movie Scope, explained, “The acting performances are outstanding in this movie … While the story, by writer-director Joshua Weigel and Rebekah Weigel, is formulaic, it is very inspiring. It is refreshing to see a movie that champions the positive, healing aspects of love and faith instead of weaponizing faith into instruments of hatred, division, and political power.”
Possum Trot also saw Leticia Wright serve as executive producer, her first position as producer. Since her early roles in Top Boy and Doctor Who, the 30-year-old has celebrated major career growth. In 2017, Wright received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for the Black Mirror episode “Black Museum.” She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2018 with Black Panther and continues to add to her acting résumé.
