Kiwi star struck it lucky
Gold Coast-bound veteran New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison says he’s just a “boy from Rotorua” who struck it lucky
The 62-year-old, who found global fame nearly 30 years ago playing Jake “The Muss” Heke in the seminal Kiwi film Once Were Warriors, has been discovered by a new generation of fans thanks to his renewed Star Wars role as feared bounty hunter Boba Fett.
While never short of work, Mr Morrison said his return to a galaxy far, far away in his own television series – The Book of Boba Fett – nearly 20 years after first appearing had given him a new lease of life.
“You never know your luck being a boy from Rotorua,” he said, speaking from his home on New Zealand’s North Island.
“I was a haka boy, I loved cowboy movies growing up and then one thing became another and I got my way to Hollywood.
“My fans from Star Wars are a big part of it and it is what most often comes up but it rejuvenated me and through The Book of Boba Fett I have had my used-by date extended.
“It was great to be in and gave me a boost by putting me back in the galaxy again and it’s a big world out there.”
Mr Morrison will spend the weekend on the Glitter Strip meeting fans at the annual Supanova pop culture expo at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
In a wide-reaching conversation ahead of his visit, Mr Morrison opened up on his career, his fans, the future of Star Wars, his beloved rugby league and his view of the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament in Australia.
MEETING HIS FANS
Mr Morrison is a frequent visitor to the Gold Coast, having made several films here during his 51-year career, including Aquaman, Occupation and Dora and the Lost City of Gold.
Ahead of his second appearance at Supanova, he said meeting his legions of fans gave him great satisfaction.
“It’s always very nice and the fans are generally great and most of them just want a moment to say hi, love your work and it’s really special to do that with them,” he said.
“Some of them get quite emotional while others I’ve signed their body and they’ve come back with my autograph now as a tattoo.
“I even have a fanbase for a movie I did called Fresh Meat where I play a cannibal which is a movie I never thought anyone would watch.”
RUGBY LEAGUE
Mr Morrison’s visit to the Gold Coast coincides with this weekend’s Queensland derby clash between the Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos.
While primarily a supporter of the New Zealand Warriors, the passionate sports fan said he had long barracked for the Broncos.
“I’ve always been a big fan of the Broncos, especially back in the era of Wally Lewis and Steven Renouf.
“I used to play league myself many years ago and had a few knocks in my head in that time, so maybe that’s why I’m loopy now.
‘Then again, you have to be a bit loopy to act.”
THE FUTURE OF STAR WARS
Mr Morrison first entered the Star Wars universe in 2002 when he played the bounty hunter Jango Fett and the republic clone troopers in the film Attack of the Clones and later voiced Jango’s son Boba.
He returned to the role of Boba Fett in 2019 on the television series The Mandalorian before scoring his own miniseries, which ran from 2021-22.
Disney announced earlier in April that Book of Boba Fett creators Dave Filoni would helm a new film in the sci-fi saga which would bring together and conclude the events seen in both series, plus the upcoming Ahsoka project.
While no casting announcement has been made, Mr Morrison said he hoped it came together.
“Things are changing every day and it will depend on what the big bosses at Disney say,” he said.
“It will be wonderful to take it to the next level and it will be a joining of the forces which will be great because I think we need a bit of cooperation between us Mandalorians.”
THE VOICE
Mr Morrison, a Maori, said he supported Australia’s push to recognise its First Nations people in the constitution.
“People are used to monoculture for so long but now things are opening up,” he said.
“I very much respect them, they are people of the land and they come with ancient knowledge and their land was taken from them.
“Aboriginals are your brothers and the more we understand each other the more we can live together.”