The Birth of a Nation (2023 film)

The Birth of a Nation is a 2023 American epic period historical politcal drama film co-written and directed by Ben Shapiro, co-founder of the conservative news and media company The Daily Wire. The film serves as a "re-imaganing" of D.W. Griffith's film of the same name, and subsequently an adaption of Thomas Dixon Jr.'s novel The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan. Unlike the source materials, which promoted the Ku Klux Klan, the film satarizes them and emphasizes their link with the Democratic Party. The film features an ensemble cast, inlcuding Mel Gibson (who also executive produces), Michael Knowles, Brett Cooper, Sean Patrick Flannery, Dennis Rodman, Gina Carano, Stacey Dash, Diego Calva, Joseph C. Phillips, and Kevin Sorbo.

The Birth of a Nation was released on July 4, 2023 by The Daily Wire via streaming on DailyWire+. The film was universally panned by critics, with many considering it to be one of the worst films of all time; it recieved controversy for its depiction of left-wing Americans, being deemed "offensive" and "stereotypical." However, it was a success in viewership, being marked as the biggest film release in its streaming platform.

Premise
At the height of the Civil War, members of the Democratic Party in the Confederate States of America band together to create the Ku Klux Klan. This events creates a domino effect that affects various people from throughout the war, showcasing the true evil of the KKK.

Cast

 * Mel Gibson
 * Michael Knowles
 * Brett Cooper
 * Sean Patrick Flannery
 * Dennis Rodman
 * Gina Carano
 * Stacey Dash
 * Diego Calva
 * Joseph C. Phillips
 * Kevin Sorbo

Production
Sometime in 2021, Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon wrote a story treatment for a remake of The Birth of a Nation (1915). They had pitched to various studios, including Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Studios, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, although all refused to pick up the project. Later that year, Ben Shapiro, co-founder of The Daily Wire, approached them for a meeting, with Shapiro being interested in their remake.

In January 2022, Shapiro announced The Birth of a Nation as a new film for the Daily Wire Entrainment branch, and that he, Matt Walsh, and Jeremy Boreing (all working at the Daily Wire) had scribed the screenplay. Konzelman and Solomon originally considered directing, but dropped out to focus on Nefarious (2023), only continuing to serve as producers instead. Additionally, Santa Fe Films were added as a production company, after Boreing was shown a early screening of Sound of Freedom (2023). The following month, Mel Gibson was cast and opted to help fund as an executive producer.

In June 2022, filming commenced in California. That same month, the cast, comprised almost entirely of Republican actors, including Sean Patrick Flannery, Dennis Rodman, Gina Garano, Stacey Dash, Diego Calva, Joseph C. Phillips, and Kevin Sorbo were revealed, along with Michael Knowles and Brett Cooper who work for the Daily Wire.

Release
The Birth of a Nation was released in the United States by The Daily Wire, via streaming on their subscription service DailyWire+, on July 4, 2023 (American Independence Day).

Critical reception
The Birth of a Nation was universally panned by critics, with criticism for its directing, writing, acting, production values, and messages. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 0% approval rating from 43 reviews with a 2.1/10 average; the site's consensus reads "As shamefully self-indulgent as it is offensive, The Birth of a Nation completely annihilates all the good qualities of the controversial classic." Metacritic assigned a weighted average of 14/100 based on 22 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".