Actor Tray Chaney, son Malachi producing documentary on tornado that destroyed their Georgia home

GEORGIA — Actor Tray Chaney and his son Malachi are producing Reborn By the Storm, an independent documentary that examines the EF‑2 tornado that destroyed their Georgia home and left the 18‑year‑old critically injured. The family discussed the project and the storm’s aftermath in an interview with Deadline.com, offering new details about the film and Malachi’s recovery.

Documentary Reborn By the Storm Reconstructs the Night a Tornado Tore Their Lives Apart

The tornado struck in May, tearing the house apart and throwing Malachi hundreds of feet into nearby woods. He survived a traumatic brain injury, broken ribs and facial fractures.

A Yearlong Journey Captured on Film

According to the Chaneys’, the documentary will follow the family’s recovery and the months of rebuilding that followed. Chaney Vision Entertainment is producing the film, with Luis A. Garcia of Wise Minds Films serving as editor. The team plans to begin screenings in May 2026, marking one year since the storm.

Tray Chaney and his son Malachi

The film includes interviews with the family and documents Malachi’s rapid progress. In the interview, Tray Chaney said his son began walking again in less than three weeks and immediately focused on returning to college. He described Malachi as a “walking miracle.”

Messages of Support From Across the Industry

The Chaneys told Deadline that support poured in from entertainers and colleagues soon after the tornado. Kenan Thompson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer reached out. Several cast members from The Wire also contacted the family, and Felicia Pearson visited Malachi in the hospital.

Chaney is widely known for his role as Malik “Poot” Carr on HBO’s The Wire. The series, based on Baltimore’s political and drug climate, has been dubbed one of the greatest shows of all time.

A Shift From Ongoing ‘Wire’ Cast Interviews

Before the tornado, Chaney had been producing Live From the Pit, a YouTube series featuring interviews with cast members from The Wire. He told Deadline the series included conversations with J.D. Williams, Anwan Glover and Hassan Johnson about the show’s legacy and its portrayal of Baltimore’s political and criminal landscape.