Denzel Washingtonhas been one of Hollywood’s brightest stars for decades, but one of his most acclaimed projects of the 1990s was a box-office disappointment. Now, with its 30th anniversary approaching, the 1995 neo-noir thrillerDevil in a Blue Dresshas a new streaming home. The film, which also starsDon CheadleandJennifer Beals, will stream on Hulu starting July 21, 2025.
Devil in a Blue Dressis an adaptation of writerWalter Mosley’s 1990 novel of the same name, the first in a series of Easy Rawlins mysteries, set from the 1940s to the 1960s: the sixteenth,Farewell, Amethystine, was published in 2024. The film was written and directed byCarl Franklin(One False Move), a fan of Mosley’s work, and shot on location in Los Angeles. The film was intended to be the first part of a trilogy of Rawlins films starring Washington, but the disappointing grosses for the film ($22 million USD on a $22 million budget) ensured that it would be a one-and-done project. However, it was hailed by critics, and currently holds a 92% Fresh rating onRotten Tomatoes.
What Is ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ About?
In the film, set in 1948, Washington plays Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins; a veteran in 1948 Los Angeles, he’s laid off and looking for work. He encounters private eye DeWitt Albright (Tom Sizemore), who’s looking for a missing woman, Daphne Monet (Beals). She’s the fiancée of mayoral candidate Todd Carter (Terry Kinney), and she’s been known to mingle in the Black community, which is why the white Albright needs Rawlins' help. However, he soon learns that there are men who don’t want Daphne to be found, and are willing to kill for it. In desperation, he calls in a man from his past,trigger-happy live-wire Raymond “Mouse” Alexander(Cheadle). Together, they get to the bottom of the mystery, and Rawlins discovers he may have an aptitude for this line of work.
There have been numerous subsequent attempts to adapt Easy Rawlins for the screen. In 2006, HBO intended to adapt the 2004 novelEasy Scarlet, withJeffrey Wrightas Rawlins andYasiin Beyas Mouse, but those plans fell through. Most recently, Amblin Entertainment acquired the rights and intended to produce a series in 2021; the project has yet to materialize.
Devil in a Blue Dresswill beavailable to stream on Hulu starting August 1. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
Devil in a Blue Dress
