'American Fiction' trailer has a Black author's stereotype-riddled joke novel become an unexpected hit

The official trailer for American Fiction is here, teasing a hilarious, pragmatic glimpse at the reality of being an author of color.

American Fiction follows Monk (Jeffrey Wright), a Black writer who is struggling to find success. Frustrated by seeing publishers snap up books from other Black authors which rely on caricature and stereotypes, Monk uses a pen name to jokingly write an exaggerated "Black" book to prove a point. Unfortunately for him, publishers love it, flinging Monk into an increasingly complex situation as he's pulled deeper and deeper into the ruse.

Based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett, American Fiction is written and directed by Cord Jefferson and also features Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown.

American Fiction hits select theatres Dec. 15, before expanding on Dec. 22.