The film stars LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, RJ Cyler, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Micheal Ward, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, Caleb McLaughlin, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, James McAvoy, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

It follows a struggling down-on-his-luck man named Clarence living in A.D. 33 Jerusalem who looks to capitalize on the rise of Jesus Christ, by claiming to be a new Messiah sent by God, in an attempt to free himself of debt and start a life of glory for himself.

The Book of Clarence had its world premiere at the 67th BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2023, and was released by TriStar Pictures in the United States on January 12, 2024.

A struggling Hebrew man in A.D. 33 Jerusalem, Clarence, and friend Elijah lose a chariot race with Mary Magdalene (and money the victory would have brought) due to difficulties such as gypsies shooting darts at them, and almost running over a dirt-encrusted beggar, Benjamin.

Clarence, a marijuana smoker who steals honey wine from the Romans, smokes opium one day, around the floating-in-air bodies of other opium-smokers, and, seeing a light over his head, conceives the idea of being a fake messiah, capitalizing on the rise of Jesus Christ, to free himself of debt and start a life of glory.

The newly-rich Benjamin buys a "makeover": under the dirt, he is a long-haired white man who resembles conventional portrayals of Jesus.

Benjamin is crucified alongside Clarence, complaining that an onlooker is making a painting of him (looking like a traditional white Jesus).

He cited biblical epics such as The Ten Commandments (1956), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Samson and Delilah (1949), and Ben-Hur (1959) as films he was modeling Clarence after.

[6] In December, RJ Cyler, Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard and Marianne Jean-Baptiste were among several additions to the cast.

[7] It was also announced that Rob Hardy would serve as cinematographer, Tom Eagles as editor, Peter Walpole as production designer, and that Samuel would compose the score.

"[10] In November 2023, the lead single for the soundtrack, "Hallelujah Heaven", featuring Lil Wayne, Buju Banton, and Shabba Ranks was released.

[12] The soundtrack features Jorge Ben Jor, Lil Wayne, Buju Banton, Shabba Ranks, Kodak Black, Doja Cat, Adekunle Gold, Jorja Smith, Yemi Alade, D’Angelo, JAY-Z, Kid Cudi, Alice Smith, and Terry Callier.

[15] In the United States and Canada, The Book of Clarence was released alongside The Beekeeper and Mean Girls, and was projected to gross around $7 million in its opening weekend.

The website's consensus reads: "The Book of Clarence makes light work of some heavy subject matter, with undeniably entertaining—albeit uneven—results.

[16] Guy Lodge of Variety wrote "Biblical cinema could use more messengers with Samuel's eccentricity and daring, alive to the limitations and biases that have hitherto made for such a stylistically uniform genre".