John Kani living out a dream on film set in Atlanta

AFTER commanding many a stage globally for more than 50 years, New Brighton actor John Kani – who played a pivotal role in Captain America Civil War two years ago – is currently working on another silver screen project being filmed in Atlanta.

Despite Marvel Comics announcing the cast of the upcoming movie, Black Panther, which is to be released in February next year on their Facebook page and listing Kani as King T’Chaka, Kani said he could not say much as he had signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Kani, 73, however, said he would be heading back to the United States later this year to continue working on a project along with his son, Atandwa Kani.

“I will be flying to Atlanta for a week or two and then I will be flown back to Johannesburg to continue with a few projects I have going on in South Africa.

“I am doing a major blockbuster movie and I cannot say what it is because of a nondisclosure clause in my contract.

“I can say that my son is involved,” he said.

Kani, who played a pivotal part, however brief, when he portrayed the king of Wakanda, a fictional African country and delivers his performance in isiXhosa, commended the excellent work ethic of the actors.

“After I landed in Atlanta, where the paparazzi had been waiting for me to arrive which made me feel like a popstar even though I am just an elderly gentleman from the dusty streets of New Brighton, I got to meet the actors.

“Chadwick Boseman, who plays Black Panther, is such an inspiration and a great actor to work with. [He] asked me for a picture.

“Scarlett Johansson also asked for a picture and I remember thinking I was her groupie but she was asking me for one.”

Humbled by the opportunity, Kani said being a part of such a major movie was exciting and brought his career full circle. —