The Singular Serenity of John Boyega

John Boyega has by no means introduced as somebody who lacks in confidence. From the second the London-born actor of Nigerian-descent burst into public prominence — because the steely younger lead within the subversive sci-fi journey Assault the Block — his trademark has been a type of palpable, radiating glow of self-belief. He was the preternaturally magnetic performer holding his personal reverse display screen veterans with 10 occasions his expertise; the luminous human charm-bomb who was as snug swinging a toy lightsaber on a chat present as he was addressing a rapturous crowd at a Black Lives Matter protest.

Even so, issues have sharpened and shifted lately. A professionally and personally transformative three years — a interval that has seen him play a precolonial West African ruler in The Girl King, embody a PTSD-afflicted warfare veteran in Breaking, and win a Golden Globe for his flip as a trailblazing Black British policeman in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology — have given new texture and definition to his religion in his personal talents. “I knew I had it throughout [filming of the] Star Wars [franchise],” he tells me now, beaming in from Atlanta and crisply wearing a darkish, pin-striped tunic shirt. “However now I do know I’ve it, have it.”

“I knew I had it throughout [filming of the] Star Wars [franchise], however now I do know I’ve it, have it.”

The following part on this run of daring, eclectic profession decisions could be probably the most hanging and singular but. Described by Boyega as “hood Scooby-Doo,” and costarring Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris, the long-awaited Netflix tentpole They Cloned Tyrone is about to be one of many summer season’s most talked-about motion pictures: a Blaxploitation-influenced sci-fi conspiracy thriller that’s, all of sudden, an uproarious, unapologetically Black action-comedy and a multilayered exploration of systemic oppression, with satire as sharp and lacerating as a smashed forty of malt liquor. “There’s simply so [many] parts of genres clashed collectively,” says Boyega, grinning with admiration.

What’s extra, his depiction of Fontaine — the grill-wearing drug vendor who, because the movie’s title suggests, finds out he won’t be fairly who he thinks he’s — reaffirms Boyega’s vary and improvement as an actor. Throw in his forthcoming work as a producer and philanthropist, plus his devotion to horseback using (sure, actually), and this new movie feels just like the herald of a broader interval of progress and unburdened artistic freedom — an age wherein Boyega has a agency hand in defining the narratives round him. He would possibly nonetheless be finest recognized for his key position within the defibrillation of one of many largest movie franchises in historical past, however in additional methods than one, he’s trying to the longer term fairly than the previous.

He would possibly nonetheless be finest recognized for his key position within the defibrillation of one of many largest movie franchises in historical past, however in additional methods than one, he’s trying to the longer term fairly than the previous. Under, we chat with the star to search out out extra about what’s on his horizon.

EBONY: They Cloned Tyrone comprises so many desirable multitudes, and it sneaks actually difficult themes into what’s ostensibly a popcorn film. Was that a part of the enchantment?

John Boyega: We’ve heard some suggestions right here and there, [and] lots of people go, “Yeah, it’s humorous. It’s humorous…” However then they go, “There’s a poignant lesson in it.” And I felt the identical method, as a result of I forgot in regards to the particulars of the movie, and once I noticed it, I used to be like, Oh yeah. There’s a lot nuance in it. Folks that [have] seen it walked in anticipating a comedy — slapstick enjoyable. Which is clearly in there. However they didn’t suppose they’d be deep in thought lengthy after the movie in regards to the many Easter eggs which are in there, the ethical classes and the social commentary.

Author-director Juel Taylor selected to set the movie in another present-day universe of Seventies automobiles, fictional fried hen chains, drive-bys, and intercourse employees and pimps. What did you make of it as an exploration and interrogation of Black cultural stereotypes?

 There’s numerous that, and that was enjoyable to play with. I feel [a lot of] the movies I’ve performed to date have been an exploration of the Black expertise. Like, I’ve been in a position to be a king, be a person with PTSD who’s on his final legs, and now I play a Black man in a made-up hood who discovers he’s a clone. , that in itself is simply totally different tones of storytelling inside the tradition. If the stereotypes have been by themselves and only a ploy to inform a narrative, then I’d be like, Whoa, whoa. However as a result of a part of the important thing of the story is to current the stereotypes and tie on this message in an entertaining method, for me, I used to be similar to, Yeah, this script is good.

How did you method enjoying Fontaine, your character in They Cloned Tyrone?

Effectively, I didn’t have a lot time. This was through the pandemic — earlier than The Girl King, after which after that I went to Breaking. However Juel Taylor is the reality; he had a imaginative and prescient. When your director is aware of precisely what he desires out of your portrayal of a personality, then you definately’re given as a lot assist as you want.

Plenty of the time Juel and I have been on the identical web page. [But] there have been a number of assumptions that Juel was in a position to are available in and flip on their head. I used to be type of like, “Is [my character] a man that simply is available in, weapons blazing, and simply doesn’t care?” And Juel was like, “Nah. There’s sure scenes that you just don’t must play like Paid in Full. You’ve kinda obtained to play it like he’s drained.” Like, the dude is conscious that he’s within the film, and it’s simply steady, so the clone side is the primary factor that anchors him. As a result of he’s a clone, and he was created in a lab. The viewers doesn’t understand it, however you need to, in your head, make these selections and have him do sure issues which are subtly excessive — even the way in which he walks, the place he places his hand. It wasn’t about enthusiastic about what an actual dude on this scenario would do. It was extra about, if he’s a clone, how would he go about it, and what are the stereotypes that might be put in there, for an artificial particular person?

John Boyega wears an Homme Plissé Issey Miyake go well with and Tiffany & Co. Jewellery. Photograph by Keith Main for EBONY Media.

That enjoyable positively comes throughout within the movie. How did you construct a relationship and a rapport with Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris?

There’s quite a bit resting on the chemistry. However you realize, Jamie and I had met earlier than. I feel I met him at D23 [Disney’s biennial fan expo and preview showcase for upcoming projects], and we have been each selling large Disney motion pictures on the time. I feel there’s one thing about Jamie’s vitality that simply brings everyone collectively. It’s not onerous to have chemistry with Jamie Foxx as a result of he’s a really sociable, outgoing man who connects fairly effectively with individuals. So I’d say that Jamie was that important bridge between me and Teyonah to get our circulation going. And Teyonah is humorous. She’s lovely, however she’s additionally humorous — very proficient, very sensible. So the mixture simply labored.

John Boyega wears Tobert Wun Prime, Hoodie, and Jacket. Photograph by Keith Main for EBONY Media.

Was there numerous improvisation?

In a Jamie Foxx film? That’s like obligatory! Jamie was writing some new scenes with sure improvisations.

Clearly, it have to be unusual to advertise the film given the scenario with Jamie’s well being.

Very like everyone else, I’m simply hoping that he will get effectively. So, full hopes, and wishing him all one of the best along with his restoration.

The movie additionally explores a side of Black masculinity. How have you ever personally navigated that path to manhood?

Yeah, you positively should construct a type of familiarity between your self and a world which will see you thru a number of totally different lenses, whether or not it’s race, wealth, fame. Individuals meet a standard person who works a standard job, and so they go, Okay, cool. Then fame and wealth [come] into it, and it’s like, Have been they good? How are they? What have been they like? As a result of there are these different stereotypical stigmas [related to the] methods individuals can go. So it’s navigating that.

This newest venture marks your fourth within the final three years. How do you stability your pure nonstop work ethic with out tipping into burnout?

I feel for me it’s been pouring [energy] into different individuals’s desires for themselves. It detaches me from mine, however there’s nonetheless ardour inside that, as effectively. Once you get on this place, everyone is like, “What charity group do you wish to be part of? What protest do you wish to lead?” And it’s extra like, Oh no, you’ve obtained your loved ones at residence proper there; begin at residence. That’s what I’ve been placing extra vitality into — like my household’s desires and the individuals round me. My mum and pa began a charity simply 4 years in the past. We’ve been constructing wells, libraries and bathroom services in rural villages in Nigeria. My dad has all the time performed charity work in Nigeria as a minister, as a pastor. And we did an enormous journey the place we constructed a effectively for my mum’s village, for an entire bunch of people that needed to stroll miles to get clear water. To assist them set up that type of indifferent me from not solely performing, however my very own ambitions. I discovered stability in that, and [also in] having extra respect for relaxation. Relaxation is like cayenne pepper, man. [Laughs] You may’t put all of it in, however just a bit, simply sufficient, could be very, superb.

And also you’re engaged on the Assault the Block sequel with director Joe Cornish. That have to be an actual full-circle second.

 It’s a full-circle second for certain. Assault the Block simply holds a deep place in my coronary heart. I don’t know what it’s. I needed to be in a film, however till I obtained onto that set — that was once I knew I needed to be in motion pictures. Have you learnt what I imply? [We’re] on the early stage of placing concepts collectively for what I really feel goes to be a really thrilling sequel.

Talking of vital markers, it’s been nearly 10 years because you have been solid in Star Wars: The Pressure Awakens. How do you replicate on all the pieces that’s occurred within the final decade?

 I all the time take into consideration the recollections of the expertise. The opposite day I used to be going by means of my telephone, and I discovered a video of me and [costar] Oscar Isaac enjoying the online game Road Fighter between takes. You type of miss these individuals after some time, like Oscar and Daisy [Ridley], and people connections that you just made; the filmmaking expertise, what I realized from watching the producers do their jobs — what that meant. And [when I] go to a retailer and see a Finn motion determine or one thing, it simply makes me chuckle. I really feel like a retired superhero. It’s bizarre; this factor follows me wherever I am going. However for me, it brings again the sweetest recollections, and it jogs my memory of how far I’ve come impartial of that.

I bear in mind, after ending the final one, the query was, “What are you going to do subsequent?” And there’s discuss in regards to the Star Wars typecasting stigma, however I’ve labored ever since, and I gained the Golden Globe [for Small Axe].

And if nothing else, that franchise gave you your love of horseback using, proper?

I used to be educated as a part of Episode IX, and I simply obtained actually good and felt a synergy. I felt like a centaur — a kind of half-man, half-horse individuals. I’ve since met different actors who journey, Jamie Foxx included. I’ve linked with numerous individuals over time who even have the identical ardour. There’s one thing about being on a horse. I’m not petrified of this large creature that’s simply stuffed with muscle.

You using off on a horse appears to typify what looks like a brand new period of calm and confidence. Have been you freed by a few of the trustworthy belongings you mentioned in 2020 about your expertise within the trade? You famous that Black characters have been “pushed to the aspect” of main franchises by studios.

Undoubtedly. There’s numerous freedom in it. On the one hand, typically it might probably ruffle some feathers. However on the opposite, no less than everyone is aware of what time it’s. [Laughs] It’s good to dwell in your fact.

Jimi Famurewa (@jimfamished) is an award-winning journalist and the creator of Settlers: Journeys Via the Meals, Religion and Tradition of Black African London.

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