Versus Greenlights True Crime Feature The Parable Of Lamont Coleman The First Family Authorized Film To Re-Examine Big L’s Unsolved Murder
VERSUS GREENLIGHTS TRUE CRIME FEATURE THE PARABLE OF LAMONT COLEMAN, THE FIRST FAMILY-AUTHORIZED FILM TO RE-EXAMINE BIG L’S UNSOLVED MURDER
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY TO BEGIN PRODUCTION WITH EXCLUSIVE ESTATE ACCESS, NEVER BEFORE-SEEN ARCHIVES AND NEW TESTIMONY CHALLENGING THE OFFICIAL NARRATIVE
New York, NY — After more than 25 years of unanswered questions, stalled productions, and lawsuits, The Parable of Lamont Coleman has officially been greenlit for the first phase of production.
Produced by Versus and directed by Clark Slater, the feature documentary marks the first time the Phinazee family and the Big L estate have formally authorized and participated in a film about Lamont Coleman, known professionally as Big L. The project is currently underway with a targeted 2026 release.
But this is not a music documentary, or simply a true-crime documentary; it’s a genre-bending project that arrives at a moment of renewed public interest in Coleman’s legacy. What unfolds is less a single crime story than a multigenerational saga of friends-turned-rivals, betrayals, families divided, and alliances tested. With firsthand accounts from those who lived inside the twists and turns, the film chronicles decades-long webs of relationships, betrayals, and retaliations that have echoed through139th Street like a modern-day family feud.
On Feb. 15, 1999, Lamont Coleman was shot and killed on 139th Street and Lenox Avenue at age 24. A suspect was arrested and later released due to a lack of evidence. The case remains officially unsolved. In the years that followed, members of Coleman’s family and inner circle were also murdered, including his brother Leroy “Big Lee” Phinazee and Big Lee’s son. Each case remains unresolved.
At the center of the film is 139th Street, a block that shaped the Phinazee family dynasty for more than 50 years. What began in the late 1960s as a tight-knit Harlem community evolved into a powerful and volatile street enterprise, as family matriarch Gilda “Pinky” Terry worked to hold her family together as it changed around her. The film traces how Lamont’s artistic ascent unfolded alongside his brother’s rise within that world, examining how legacy, loyalty, and reputation collided in fatal ways.
“What drew me in wasn’t just the music – it was the family,” said Clark Slater. “Three brothers, one block, decades of history, and relationships that feel almost Shakespearean in scope. And after years of building trust, we’re making something immersive and intimate that honors that complexity.”
Slater began developing a relationship with the estate years ago after being introduced through his mentor, the late Sacha Jenkins. In time, the estate approached Slater to continue the project, granting him exclusive access to home videos, unreleased footage shot by Big L’s childhood friend, Thomas Farrar, and extensive archival materials that have never been made public.
“For the first time, my family’s true story will be told,” said Donald Phinazee, Big L’s remaining brother. “There have been attempts before, but without us. This time it’s different. This is the official documentary, told by the people who were actually there.”
The film will be accompanied by an official soundtrack featuring unreleased music from Big L’s catalog, with details to be announced.
The feature is executive produced by The Estate of Lamont Coleman, LLC, Versus, Michael Herard, and Thom White, and produced by Tom Colabraro. Financing partners include Corey Needham and his Higher Empire shingle and investor Maximilian Greenfield.
Slater’s previous credits include DMX: Don’t Try to Understand for HBO and The Choice Is Yours for Paramount+.
UTA represents Versus and is also representing the sale of the film on behalf of the filmmakers. Interviews are available with director Clark Slater and estate representative Mike Heron.
Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMHedMS9wnI
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