Boseman has been confirmed to play the role Yasuke in an untitled film about the first African samurai to pick up a sword in the 16th century. No release details have been given and no director is attached yet, but the internet is already buzzing about the possibilities.
Boseman and Logan Coles’ X●ception Content will be helping to produce the movie, along with Erik Feig’s Picturestart, Mike De Luca and De Luca Productions, and Stephen L’Heureux and his banner, Solipsist. Doug Miro, co-creator of the popular Netflix series Narcos, will be writing the script.
Yasuke was a native of Portugese Mozambique brought to Japan to be a slave, but became a samurai and served under 16th century Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga. The film’s synopsis will predominantly follow the two men and their complex relationship.
“THE LEGEND OF YASUKE IS ONE OF HISTORY’S BEST KEPT SECRETS, THE ONLY PERSON OF NON-ASIAN ORIGIN TO BECOME A SAMURAI”
Boseman spoke about the film, saying “The legend of Yasuke is one of history’s best kept secrets, the only person of non-Asian origin to become a Samurai”. Boseman went on to talk about Yasuke’s life and his excitement about that character, saying “That’s not just an action movie, that’s a cultural event, an exchange, and I am excited to be a part of it”.
Doug Miro, co-creator of the popular Netflix series Narcos, will be writing the script.
The story of Yasuke has been circling around studios for a while now, starting at Lionsgate when Erik Feig headed production there, but the project dropped when he left. MGM have also recently been looking to immortalise Yasuke’s life through film with a script by Stuart C. Paul and producers Lloyd Braun and Andrew Mittman from Whalerock Industries.
Before we see Boseman in this film, however, he will next be appearing on our screens in STX’s 21 Bridges, which he and Coles have also produced along with The Russo Brothers.
