Netflix unveiled a sneak peek of Dave Chappelle’s upcoming comedy special, titled “The Dreamer.” The preview, narrated by Morgan Freeman, invites viewers to reflect on the dreams held in their hearts rather than those experienced during sleep. Freeman poses the question, “What happens to a dream deferred? Lucky for Dave, he doesn’t know.”
The teaser includes glimpses of Chappelle and Freeman watching the special, recorded at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC. Additionally, it features snippets of the comedian’s on-stage performance. Scheduled for release on New Year’s Eve, “The Dreamer” follows Chappelle’s 2021 Netflix special, “The Closer,” which stirred controversy due to perceived transphobic jokes, leading to a walkout by some Netflix employees.
In response to the backlash, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged his communication lapse with upset employees, admitting he “screwed up” and expressing regret for not leading with more humanity. “The Dreamer” delves into Chappelle’s experiences, including a May 2022 onstage attack in Los Angeles and the noteworthy “slap” incident at the Oscars the same year, as reported by Netflix. The comedy special is slated to premiere on Netflix on December 31.
