Watch the First Trailer for Jesse Owens Biopic, Shows Controversial 1936 Summer Olympics

Selma actor Stephan James stars as the late track and field gold medalist

By Marc Malkin Oct 14, 2015 11:58 PMTags

Selma actor Stephan James and Jason Sudeikis are going for gold.

James stars as track and field Olympian Jesse Owens in the upcoming Race with the former Saturday Night Live player as his coach Larry Snyder.

Owens is considered one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time. Not only did he face color barriers, but controversy swirled around his decision to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

"Mr. Owens, how can you justify taking part in Germany when there is so much discrimination here at home?" a reporter asks during an Owens press conference featured in the just-released first trailer for the movie.

Another voice over is heard booming, "Under the Hitler regime, we must not go to these Olympic games to show our solidarity with the oppressed people of Germany."

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At one point, Sudeikis has James by the collar and up against a wall. "You get a chance to be part of history and you walk away from it?" an angry Sudeikis growls.

"I've got people looking at me for an example," James says.

Sudeikis shouts, "I don't care about any of that!"

"Well, you're white, Larry, you don't have to," James yells back at him.

Owens became an international star after winning not one, but four gold medals in Berlin.

"Out there, there ain't no black and white, there's only fast and slow," James says as footage of Hitler entering the stadium is shown in the trailer. "Nothing matters—not color, not money, not even hate."

Race is in theaters Feb. 19.