Overview

• Netflix has released a teaser for Dave Chappelle's upcoming New Year's Eve special, 'The Dreamer', which was shot in Chappelle's hometown of Washington, DC at the historic Lincoln Theatre.
• The special is narrated by Morgan Freeman and directed by Emmy Award winner Stan Lathan, who has directed all seven of Chappelle's specials for Netflix.
• 'The Dreamer' follows Chappelle's last special, 'The Closer', which sparked backlash for being perceived as transphobic and homophobic, leading to a virtual walkout from hundreds of Netflix employees.
• Despite the controversy, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos defended 'The Closer' and stated that it was in line with the platform's stance towards 'artistic expression'.
• 'The Dreamer' marks Chappelle's first Netflix release since 'What’s in a Name?' in 2022, which captured the comedian’s 40-minute speech to his alma mater, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.