Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen-Produced Doc ‘King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones’

Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen-Produced Doc ‘King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones’

As a history enthusiast with a keen interest in untold stories of African American contributions, I can hardly contain my excitement for the release of “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones.” Growing up, I was always captivated by tales of Al Capone and the gangsters of Chicago, but the story of Edward Jones, a policy king who rose from slavery to become one of the richest men in the country during the 1930s and 40s, has been an enigma that I’ve longed to unravel.


Byron Allen’s digital media distribution company, Freestyle Digital Media, has purchased the rights to the documentary titled “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones“.

A documentary, co-produced by Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen, made by European filmmaker Harriet Marin Jones, delves into her journey uncovering the facts about her grandfather, Edward Jones – a renowned figure known as the King of Policy. During the Great Depression in Chicago, he climbed to political and financial success.

Though the years of research were challenging due to funding issues, as a filmmaker, I couldn’t have wished for a more compelling tale to bring to light. Being Edward Jones’s granddaughter granted me access to numerous anecdotes and personal records detailing his extraordinary journey during significant historical events,” the filmmaker shared in a statement.

Was Edward Jones truly a gangster or a hero? This is the question posed in a film’s release. In the 1930s and 1940s, Jones amassed immense wealth due to his involvement in policy business, an illicit form of gambling akin to modern lotteries. Eventually, he lived life as an evader of law enforcement.

Allen expressed his excitement about sharing this globally recognized documentary with everyone. He emphasized that the powerful, unspoken truth within this story resonates strongly today, especially as our Black community continues to fight for essential human rights.

She went on to speak about this tale: a man who emerged from a lineage of enslavement, rising to become the most influential policy maker in Chicago – a figure often overshadowed by Al Capone. However, there’s another name that deserves recognition – Ed Jones. Much like Robin Hood, he was a benefactor to his community, and his efforts led to the establishment of the city-owned lottery, which unfortunately was later taken from him and his kin.

The film titled “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones” was penned by Harriet Marin Jones, Michel Fessler, and Giles Gardner. In this production, Harriet Marin Jones took on both the roles of director and producer. Quincy Jones, Debbie Allen, Stéphane Sperry, and Séverine Cappa served as executive producers for the project.

Beginning September 20, the movie is set to play in Chicago, while it screens in Los Angeles on September 27. From November 19 onwards, you’ll be able to rent or purchase the film through video-on-demand and DVD services.

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2024-09-19 20:27