Chadwick Boseman to Play First Black Samurai in New Film!
Our beloved Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, is gearing up to make another big bank film! Boseman has teamed up with Picturestart and De Luca Productions to star in the adaptation of the story of Yasuke, who served under Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga in 16th century Japan as the main character.
Via Deadline:
"Yasuke was a native of Portuguese Mozambique who was brought to Japan as a slave to Jesuit missionaries. The first black man to set foot on Japanese soil, Yasuke’s arrival aroused the interest of Nobunaga, a ruthless warlord seeking to unite the fractured country under his banner. A complex relationship developed between the two men as Yasuke earned Nobunaga’s friendship, respect — and ultimately, the honor, swords and title of samurai."
“The legend of Yasuke is one of history’s best kept secrets, the only person of non-Asian origin to become a Samurai,” Boseman said. “That’s not just an action movie, that’s a cultural event, an exchange, and I am excited to be part of it.”
The film has been in the works for a number of years but has seen some delays. Evidently the timing just wasn't right, the stars weren't aligned and the universe was just waiting for Boseman to to get a few more films under his belt.
Whatever the case, we've seen his physique in action when he completely embodied T'Challa in Marvel's "Black Panther" we can't wait to see how he transforms to become a samurai!
There's no word yet on when production will begin on this film but we're sure to be in the theater opening weekend!