PRIDE & PREJUDICE
After his breakthrough role as Finn in Star Wars trilogy, Londoner John relished the chance to work with Oscar-winning director on acclaimed film Detroit which looks back at shocking police brutality
ACTOR John Boyega is a man in demand.
After a key role in the new Star Wars trilogy, the Londoner leads the cast of one of this year’s hottest films.
John, who received the EE Rising Star Award at the 2016 Baftas, stars in Detroit – a movie that focuses on the events of one night during the city’s summer of civil unrest in 1967.
In the film, directed by Oscarwinning director Kathryn Bigelow, the 25-year-old portrays real-life security guard Melvin Dismukes.
He was a witness at the Algiers Motel, where policemen conducted a “death game” in an attempt to intimidate guests into confessing following a report of gunshots in the area.
By the end of the night, three unarmed young men had been shot at point-blank range, and several other men and women had been brutally beaten.
Kathryn has said “it’s not an option to do nothing” when it comes to highlighting injustice.
And it’s a stance her star supports – particularly in light of recent events in Charlottesville.
He said: “It’s getting to that point in everyone’s lives now where the issues of several ignorant individuals and the negativity that they’re spreading is interrupting whatever bubble we’ve created for ourselves.
“Now we can’t ignore it and you have to do something about it and being silent is not an option and I agree with that 100 per cent.
“For me, it doesn’t necessarily feel like a responsibility because I’m still doing films that are a personal gain for me but I feel it’s important to be part of stories that have a serious narrative and are informative. It’s worthwhile and gives you purpose.”
John met Melvin as he prepared to play him in Detroit and was tentative in his approach.
But he said: “His passion and support for Detroit has been amazing and we got into talking about the real deep stuff really quickly.
“We had a great chemistry in our conversation and he’s been very open so I really commend him with how strong he’s been.
“To relive his history on this scale is nuts.
“He’s the silent observer and he is also us. If we were thrust into a situation that we did not prepare for that requires a high level of bravery, what would we do? Would we make the right decision?
“And that’s something I think his character stands for. He definitely stands as the onlooker who’s trying to decide where his position is in all of this.”
The film features some brutal interrogation scenes. And John said it was important to keep his perspective during filming of the emotional sequences.
He added: “By then the research has been done and the character arc had been created and I knew exactly what to pinpoint in terms of performance.
“But when I first read the script I was saying, ‘He should’ve picked up a gun and shot three people and done this.’
“Then I’m like, ‘John, shut up. If you was there, you probably would’ve been doing that man.’
“So it’s very, very important to have perspective and it wasn’t a safe situation for Melvin.”
He added: “There was a sense of purpose throughout the whole set so there was always an intensity and that’s something I really enjoyed and even the crew understood that.
“Sometimes you want to keep an intensity as an actor and the crew are joking around. Obviously there needs to be unity and the Detroit set was like that.”
He’s a big fan of his director’s previous, action-packed work, with The Hurt Locker his favourite.
John said: “I think for most of us, we were so excited to be part of a [then] ‘Untitled Kathryn Bigelow project’.
“My curiosity and the main thing I was excited about was, how does she get these real visceral performances from actors and how will she get that out of me? It motivated me to be part of it and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
After Detroit, which is out in cinemas today, John will next be seen in The Last Jedi, the second part of his epic Star Wars trilogy turn as Finn, the ex-stormtrooper taking on the dark side as part of the heroic resistance.
Then it’s sci-fi sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising.
He said: “The best sci-fi does still have social commentary so for me, there still is that mentality you bring to each project.
“I only want to be in things I’d like to watch. For me, it’s the same kind of commitment for Star Wars as Detroit.
“The only real difference is the process, the director and obviously Star Wars being Star Wars, it’s a completely different machine.
“Detroit is special. I needed this project to give me perspective and to give me a different way of working and a different process.”
From serious roles to sci-fi blockbuster, John is showing his versatility and is savvy about his career.
He said: “I have a master plan – a plan with what I’d like to do. I just think I’m in a place where I can strategically choose.
“I have my own company now as well so I get to really just plan what I want to put out.”