Is They Cloned Tyrone Based on a True Story? Cast, Plot and Trailer
by Hemaasri | Updated Jul 25, 2023
They Cloned Tyrone
"They Cloned Tyrone" is an American science fiction comedy mystery film released in 2023, marking Juel Taylor's directorial debut in feature films. The screenplay, co-written by Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, revolves around three lead characters portrayed by John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx (who also serves as a producer).
Together, this unlikely trio embarks on an extraordinary journey to unravel a clandestine government conspiracy involving cloning. The film made its debut at the American Black Film Festival on June 14, 2023, followed by a limited theatrical release on July 14, 2023, before being available for streaming on Netflix starting July 21, 2023.
"They Cloned Tyrone" received accolades from critics, who particularly lauded the humor and outstanding performances of the lead cast. The plot unfolds in a retro futuristic neighborhood known as the Glen, where Fontaine, a struggling drug dealer, faces odds stacked against him.
He mourns the loss of his younger brother, and his relationship with his reclusive mother remains distant. One night, Fontaine confronts Slick Charles, a pimp indebted to him, leading to a confrontation involving one of Slick's sex workers, Yo-Yo. Tragically, Fontaine gets fatally shot by a rival drug dealer named Isaac.
To everyone's surprise, including Slick's, Fontaine miraculously reappears the next morning, devoid of any memory of the previous night's events. Puzzled by this turn of events, Fontaine recalls witnessing a man being kidnapped from the Glen in a mysterious van.
Together with Slick and Yo-Yo, Fontaine investigates further and stumbles upon an underground lab concealed behind a hidden elevator. In the lab, they encounter a white scientist with an afro who cryptically refers to a widespread operation.
Curiosity leads Slick and Yo-Yo to unwittingly consume a mysterious white substance, which causes uncontrollable laughter and accidental death. The trio discovers a lifeless body identical to Fontaine's on an operating table, sparking a chilling realization.
As they dig deeper into the conspiracy, the friends find themselves immersed in a bizarre world of mind control experiments conducted using everyday products, such as chicken, grape drinks, and hair products for Black women. The revelation that the entire Glen community is under surveillance and manipulation raises alarm. They explore a local Black church, only to be disturbed by the disturbing lyrics chanted by churchgoers, influenced by the grape drink.
Their investigation leads them to a secret lab facility where they witness horrifying behavioral experiments on Black individuals, including clones of the Glen's residents, themselves included. The facility is run by predominantly white scientists who use trigger words and items, like the chicken, to control the clones.
Nixon, a manipulative individual associated with the operation, discloses the heinous experiment's purpose, claiming it aims to maintain peace by transforming Black individuals into white through mind control and breeding. Fontaine and Slick discover they are clones themselves and become entangled in a dangerous struggle to expose the conspiracy.
A thrilling rescue mission ensues, with Fontaine faking his death to infiltrate the lab and free the captive individuals. The revelation of the real Fontaine's role in creating the clones shocks everyone, and a climactic showdown ensues. Amidst chaos, the trio exposes the secret operation to the public, and their journey to unveil the truth and dismantle the conspiracy continues, with a resolve to take down the clandestine network in Memphis.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, a man named Tyrone realizes that he is an exact clone of Fontaine, leading to an intriguing twist in the narrative."They Cloned Tyrone" presents a gripping and thought-provoking tale of deception, manipulation, and the pursuit of truth, all wrapped in a thrilling sci-fi comedy mystery.
Is They Cloned Tyrone Based on a True Story?
It is a science - Fiction comedy inspired by movies like The Truman Show and even bits of Taylor's personal life.The film's ambition to explore uncharted territories in the movie industry is commendable, considering how saturated it has become with superhero flicks, franchise sequels, prequels, and remakes.
While venturing into originality carries risks, sticking to familiar formats guarantees a certain level of safety. Movie studios are well aware that investing in proven formulas or genres they believe will yield profitable returns is no secret in the business. The abundance of films featuring comic book heroes is a testament to their money-making track record, leading studios to reproduce similar successes.
Nevertheless, the landscape is ever-changing, and recent box office performances of films like "The Flash" and "Ant-Man" have left major companies wondering if relying on the superhero genre will remain a sustainable route to prosperity. Only time will reveal the answer to that question. Still, one thing remains certain: studios will continue to produce and promote any genre they believe will attract a substantial audience, even if it means sacrificing creativity and originality.
Amidst this climate, "They Cloned Tyrone" emerges as a breath of fresh air in the industry. This sci-fi comedy, cleverly infused with a dark edge, goes against the traffic flow, defying conventional norms. Such daring ventures deserve commendation, as they offer viewers an innovative and refreshing movie experience that stands out from the crowd.
They Cloned Tyrone Cast
John Boyega
Fontaine / Old Fontaine / Chester / Tyrone
Jamie Foxx
Slick Charles
Teyonah Parris
Yo-Yo
Kiefer Sutherland
Nixon
David Alan Grier
The Preacher
J. Alphonse Nicholson
Isaac
Tamberla Perry
Biddy
Eric Robinson Jr.
Big Moss
Cast
Character
They Cloned Tyrone Plot
In a retro futuristic neighborhood known as the Glen, resides Fontaine, a drug dealer whose daily life revolves around a challenging schedule and unfavorable odds. He carries the burden of mourning his younger brother's tragic death while trying to cope with a mother who remains confined to her room, barely communicating with him.
One day, Fontaine seeks repayment from Slick Charles, a pimp who owes him money. A confrontation ensues when Slick's sex worker, Yo-Yo, becomes involved, coincidentally crossing paths with Fontaine. The situation escalates, and Fontaine manages to retrieve some money from Slick, but tragically, he gets shot by a rival drug dealer named Isaac.
To everyone's astonishment, Fontaine inexplicably reappears the next morning, fully alive but devoid of any memory of the previous night. Yo-Yo arrives to validate Slick's claims about Fontaine's death, adding to the confusion. However, fragmented memories surface, hinting at a mysterious van kidnapping a wounded man from the Glen.
Intrigued by these fragmented recollections, Fontaine investigates a house where the van was parked, while Slick and Yo-Yo express their concerns. Their fears prove justified when they stumble upon a concealed underground lab, where a white scientist with an afro informs them about the extent of a wide-reaching operation.
Curiosity leads Slick and Yo-Yo to accidentally consume a mysterious white substance, believing it to be cocaine, only to succumb to fits of uncontrollable laughter and inadvertently cause the scientist's demise. In the midst of this chaotic discovery, the trio comes face to face with a corpse resembling Fontaine on a nearby table.
Subsequently, Fontaine attempts to return to the house the following day, but the entrance to the lab mysteriously vanishes. A visit to a chicken restaurant reveals an alarming incident where everyone simultaneously bursts into laughter.
The chicken, rumored to contain a new secret ingredient, is revealed to be infused with the same enigmatic white substance ingested earlier by Slick and Yo-Yo. Further investigations by Yo-Yo uncover disturbing surveillance throughout the Glen, with the substance being incorporated into grape drinks and hair products for Black women.
Their quest leads them to a local Black church, where they become unsettled by the collective singing of disturbing lyrics, influenced by the grape drink's impact. Upon investigating, they discover an enigmatic elevator hidden on the altar.
As they delve deeper, they uncover the vastness of the lab facility, witnessing unsettling behavioral experiments being conducted on Black individuals, including clones of Glen's residents, including themselves. They observe the predominantly white scientists exercising control over the clones through specific trigger words and items, like the chicken.
Their journey takes them to a local strip club, where the DJ, secretly involved in the operation, manipulates clubgoers with music, leading them to chase the trio. However, they are unexpectedly halted by a white man named Nixon and a Fontaine clone named Chester.
Nixon discloses that he and other scientists conduct experiments on impoverished, primarily Black populations, including the Glen, under the guise of achieving peace in America. Shockingly, he reveals that both Fontaine and Slick are clones, subject to a deadly trigger word threat if they continue their investigation.
In the aftermath, Fontaine finds himself in despair upon discovering that his mother's presence is merely a recorded voice. Yo-Yo decides to take charge, but an accidental exposure of her identity results in her abduction by Nixon. Determined to rescue her, Fontaine devises a plan with Slick and Isaac, feigning his own death to infiltrate the lab undetected.
In a daring rescue attempt, Fontaine successfully sneaks in, while Slick and Isaac, along with other Glen residents, storm the lab to liberate the Black people subjected to the experiments, including the clones. Yo-Yo manages to free herself and reunites with Slick.
Fontaine eventually confronts an older version of himself, the true Fontaine, who admits to cooperating with scientists to achieve "peace" by transforming Black individuals into white through mind control and generational breeding. The original Fontaine's motives trace back to the racially-motivated murder of his brother, which drove him to create clones.
He justifies his actions by arguing that assimilation would lead to a better nation than outright annihilation. The real Fontaine meets his end when Fontaine employs Nixon's trigger word on Chester, resulting in a fatal gunshot.As the truth comes to light, the entrance to the lab within the church is exposed, revealing naked clones and exposing the nation's secret operation.
Yo-Yo, announcing her retirement from her previous occupation, decides to join forces with Fontaine and Slick, heading to Memphis to further expose and dismantle the operation.Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Tyrone, leading a life identical to Fontaine's, comes to realize that he is, in fact, a clone of Fontaine, setting the stage for a profound revelation.
Is They Cloned Tyrone Based on a True Story - FAQ
No, the movie is a science-fiction comedy with elements inspired by other films and the director's personal experiences.
The film was directed by Juel Taylor, making his feature film directorial debut.
The movie premiered at the American Black Film Festival on June 14, 2023, and had a limited theatrical release on July 14, 2023, before streaming on Netflix from July 21, 2023.
"They Cloned Tyrone" follows three main characters, Fontaine, Slick Charles, and Yo-Yo, as they uncover a government cloning conspiracy in a retro futuristic neighborhood called the Glen.
The lead cast includes John Boyega as Fontaine / Old Fontaine / Chester / Tyrone, Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles, and Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo.