“I told y’all…! Y’all thought I was playing but Gambino is back…! None of y’all are safe!” (lyrics from Childish Gambino’s “Got To Be”)

Donald Glover, who uses the alias Childish Gambino for his music, released his fifth studio album in July 2024, his last one under the name Childish Gambino. The album, called Bando Stone and the New World, was advertised as the soundtrack for a movie of the same name, set to be produced and starred in by Glover himself. So far, no movie has been released, leaving fans puzzled.

The album was met with fairly positive reviews, although not overwhelmingly so. The main critique of the album, from critics and fans alike, was that it included too many “filler” tracks.

Offering a wide range of songs, this album has something for everyone. “Lithonia”, far and away the most popular song on the album, is a heartfelt ballad. “Yoshinoya”, on the other hand, offers complex rap flow on a catchy track. The album also has numerous features, with many female artists playing the role of the female lead in the movie. “Talk My Sh*t”, for example, features Amaarae and Flo Milli. This song switches mood multiple times but still preserves a consistent sense of lightheartedness throughout. Another tactic Glover uses is distortion, with multiple tracks featuring distorted voices. This is exemplified in the album’s intro track, “H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥”, which utilizes a plethora of experimental audio effects from start to finish.

All of this excitement has left fans (and Warrior Scroll writers) desperate for the movie, but will it actually be released? There is some good news: Donald Glover has not officially canceled the movie. He appears to be recovering from an unspecified health shock, which ended his tour and was the reason for the film’s production delay. However, Glover has reinstated his radio station, Gilga, which is a sign that he is doing better.

Unfortunately, there is more bad news than good. Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the show that Glover stars in, has also been delayed. This likely means that even if the movie comes out, it will be a long while before it’s on our screens. Speculation aside, news about the film remains scarce, and it appears that no one but Glover himself knows its ultimate fate.