Don Cheadle, recognized for his versatility as an actor, is taking on a new role in the film adaptation of Shane White’s award-winning book, Prince of Darkness: The Untold Story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton, Wall Street’s First Black Millionaire. The Don Cheadle Prince of Darkness film will see Cheadle not only in the starring role but also co-writing the script alongside Steven Baigelman, his collaborator from the Miles Ahead project.
This new film will shine a light on Jeremiah G. Hamilton, a figure often overshadowed in mainstream history despite his significance on Wall Street and in American society. While names such as Madam CJ Walker and the history of Black Wall Street may be more widely recognized, Hamilton’s journey remains less explored. As an African American who amassed considerable wealth in the 19th century, Hamilton often found himself competing with some of the nation’s most influential businessmen.
The Life and Impact of Jeremiah G. Hamilton
Jeremiah G. Hamilton’s life defied many social conventions of his time. Rising to become the first Black millionaire on Wall Street, Hamilton’s story is one of ambition, resilience, and controversy. Amidst a business world that was overwhelmingly dominated by White men, he managed not only to participate but excel, often outsmarting his competitors.
Hamilton’s accomplishments included marrying a White woman and purchasing a mansion in rural New Jersey—a remarkable feat in an era marked by fierce racial discrimination. He also owned railroad stock, even though society’s rules then barred him from riding those very trains. His presence and success reportedly unsettled many of his contemporaries and challenged prevailing ideas about race, wealth, and inclusion in 19th-century America.
“In Prince of Darkness, a groundbreaking and vivid account, eminent historian Shane White reveals the larger than life story of a man who defied every convention of his time. He wheeled and dealed in the lily White business world, he married a White woman, he bought a mansion in rural New Jersey, he owned railroad stock on trains he was not legally allowed to ride, and generally set his White contemporaries teeth on edge when he wasn’t just plain outsmarting them. An important contribution to American history, Hamilton’s life offers a way into considering, from the unusual perspective of a Black man, subjects that are usually seen as being quintessentially white, totally segregated from the African American past.”
The book’s rich narrative gives readers a rare look at how Hamilton navigated spaces considered exclusively for White Americans, presenting his life as a window into broader questions about race and economic opportunity.
Award-Winning Source Material and Creative Team
Prince of Darkness was first published in 2015 and quickly received critical acclaim. The book earned the Society of Historians of the Early American Republic’s best book prize and the New York City Book Award in 2016. Author Shane White’s research brought depth and nuance to Hamilton’s remarkable story, which is now set to reach a wider audience through film.
Don Cheadle’s choice to bring Hamilton’s story to the screen aligns with his career-long commitment to representing complex, often overlooked figures from history. Having previously portrayed Miles Davis and taken on major roles in both action and drama, Cheadle, together with Baigelman, appears well positioned to handle the emotional depth and historical resonance required for this project.
What the Film Could Mean for Historical Narratives
By highlighting Jeremiah G. Hamilton’s life, the upcoming Don Cheadle Prince of Darkness film is likely to expand public awareness about Black pioneers in America’s financial history, offering new perspectives on race and success. As biographical dramas continue to shape cultural conversations around historical figures, this project stands out for focusing on resilience, ingenuity, and challenging social norms in a fiercely restrictive era.
With Cheadle and Shane White involved, the film aims to foster greater understanding of America’s diverse past, inspiring audiences by telling the overlooked story of the nation’s first Black millionaire on Wall Street. The nuanced story of Hamilton’s rise could encourage more exploration of figures whose contributions have been minimized or overlooked in mainstream history, and may well become a milestone in biographical cinema.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Don Cheadle a skrull?
A. Secret Invasion has revealed that Don Cheadle’s character, Rhodey, is actually a Skrull.
This means the person viewers saw was not the real Rhodey, but an alien in disguise.
The show made it clear to fans that Rhodey had been replaced by a Skrull.
Q. Why is Don Cheadle not credited in Ocean’s 11?
A. Don Cheadle acted as Basher Tarr, who was the explosives expert, but his name did not appear in the film’s credits. He later explained that arguments over credit order caused him to ask for his name to be taken out. Cheadle mentioned that he was unhappy with some behind-the-scenes issues.
