I just need to take a minute because John Boyega…I mean, he really did not come to play. Since Attack the Block days, he’s always spoken about the vision he’s had for his career. From strategically picking roles with underlying social commentary/messages to wanting to own and control his own image and create his own projects.
And then he gets an audition for Star Wars. He goes through seven entire months of auditions–auditions longer than anyone else, and actually books the part. Earns the part! Like, he DID that. And he killed the performance. And honestly, leading man in the biggest movie franchise ever? He could’ve stopped there. But he didn’t. He could’ve been satisfied. But he wasn’t.
He reinvested that money and co-founded his own production company and is already investing in another franchise and securing lead roles for himself. But it’s not just about him and you can tell he knows that. If it was just about his success, he could’ve stopped with Star Wars. He’s not just making sure that Hollywood will never be able to typecast or control him, he’s also ensuring that if he believes in a project or role for him or anyone else, he can get it done.
He’s been planning and working toward this for years and strategizing about how to overcome and breakdown the racist roadblocks in Hollywood and he’s making it happen. If his career so far is any indication, I can’t wait to see the rest of his plans unfold. I don’t know him, but I’m just so proud of him. Because we need him and it seems he’s up to the task.
