Jason Mitchell

Is bound for glory.

After breaking out with a blistering turn as Eazy-E in Straight Outta Compton, Jason Mitchell has followed up with the varied likes of Detroit, Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams and Kong: Skull Island, and will next be seen in Dee Rees’ powerhouse World War 2 drama, Mudbound (reviewed on page 115). The only way is up, it seems. “I’m good,” grins Mitchell. “Life is delicious right now.”

Mudbound

Actually, Dee Rees had sort of a wish list for the film. I was at the top of it. That was kind of freaky to me that people even thought of me in that light. I didn’t know that me doing my thing would attract so many opportunities. One of the key relationships in the film is between your character and Garrett Hedlund’s. Did you bond in real life?

How did come to you?

Absolutely. Garrett is my guy. We spent a lot of time off-camera together. Oddly, because I’m not one of those guys who goes over their lines over weekends… [laughs] But he actually got me to study it and get a real feel for what we’re trying to do. He was very dedicated.

Mudbound, Straight Outta Compton, Detroit… Have you actively sought period pieces that are relevant to modern times? It’s more of a coincidence. I honestly don’t have the power to say what’s going to be made, when it’s going to come out. I just happened to have these opportunities fall into place. It’s really cool to challenge yourself and go as far as you can. You’ve done serious drama, TV, blockbusters… Is there anything on your bucket list you’d still love to do? I really just want to get into production and writing and all these different things. Because I’m a super-raw cat. So it would be really, really dope to take what’s in my head and put it out there in the world. MM

ETA | 17 NovEmbEr / mudbouNd is oN NETflix Now.