Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, widely known as RZA—the legendary musician, composer, actor, and driving force behind hip hop’s Wu-Tang Clan—brings his multifaceted talents full circle with his latest film project. His new action thriller One Spoon Of Chocolate is set for a world premiere this Sunday at the Tribeca Festival, marking a milestone in a career that seamlessly merges music and filmmaking.
Written and directed by RZA, One Spoon Of Chocolate features an impressive cast including Shameik Moore (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Dope), RJ Cyler (The Harder They Fall), and Blair Underwood (Origin), among others. The story follows Unique (Moore), a former military convict who arrives in a quiet Midwestern town—filmed in Atlanta standing in for Ohio—to rebuild his life with his only surviving relative, Ramsey (Cyler). However, the town’s racist sheriff and his violent posse harbor a dark secret involving missing young Black men. When they target Unique, he must fight back to survive. This is no typical spoonful of sugar; the film delivers a raw, gripping narrative that challenges stereotypes and confronts systemic injustice.
RZA revealed in an interview that the screenplay for One Spoon Of Chocolate originated in 2012 after his martial arts period film The Man with the Iron Fists, which he directed, starred in alongside Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu, and co-wrote with Eli Roth. “I wanted to continue with the action but also add substance,” RZA said. Despite initial writer’s block, the story fully evolved during Wu-Tang Clan’s New York State of Mind tour, where inspiration struck on the road. “As an artist, you’re an instrument—you’ve got to let the muse blow through you.”
The film’s thematic core questions how individuals and communities recognize the need for change, especially in confronting entrenched stereotypes. With a compelling action movie plot and deep social commentary, One Spoon Of Chocolate stands as a testament to RZA’s evolving storytelling.
RZA’s diverse filmography also includes the musical drama Love Beats Rhymes (2017), the heist film Cut Throat City (2020), and his executive production role on Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga. His musical talents have scored cult classics like Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill volumes 1 and 2. For One Spoon Of Chocolate, he collaborated with composer Tyler Bates on the score.
Describing filmmaking as the art form that best synthesizes his many creative passions, RZA highlighted the collaborative nature of film: “The costumes, design, colors, cinematography, the action—film is the perfect medium. Music is personal, but filmmaking surrounds you with a community of artists.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, RZA launched 36 Cinema, a platform for massive virtual watch parties that engaged thousands of viewers. However, he remains a staunch advocate for the theatrical experience: “The theater is the best place to experience films… If you want the full experience of the original creative tension, theaters are better.”
Produced by RZA Productions, 36 Cinema, and Xen Diagram Media alongside Paul Hall (White Men Can’t Jump, Shaft), with executive producers Talani Diggs, Mitchell Divine Diggs, and Joe Genier (Bigger), One Spoon Of Chocolate promises to be a standout entry in the current film industry landscape.
