When John Boyega joined the Black Lives Matter protest in London yesterday and gave a full-throated speech to his fellow protestors, he proclaimed: “Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but fuck that.” If it says a lot about the wider industry systems at play that Boyega felt speaking out at an anti-racist demonstration might genuinely harm his future hireability, several notable members of the filmmaking community quickly came out to support him on social media, voicing their desire to work with him in future.
Writer-director-producer Jordan Peele simply said, “We got you, John”.
Filmmaker Matthew A. Cherry, behind the Oscar-winning animated short Hair Love, wrote: “I would work with John Boyega and I urge other Non-Black creators to affirm that they have his back as well.” Cherry’s Tweet drew replies from the likes of Birds Of Prey director Cathy Yan, Hamilton creator and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, Olivia Wilde, Edgar Wright, Black Mirror’s Charlie Brooker, Christopher Miller, Seth Grahame-Smith and more – all voicing their desire to work with Boyega in future.
Elsewhere, Boyega’s Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill wrote that he’s “never been more proud” of the actor, while The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson shared a video of Boyega’s speech with the caption: “Love this man”.
The official Star Wars social media account also released a statement from Lucasfilm that reads: “Lucasfilm stands with John Boyega and his message that, ‘Now is the time. Black lives have always mattered. Black lives have always been important. Black lives have always meant something.’ The evil that is racism must stop. We will commit to being part of the change that is long overdue in the world. John Boyega, you are our hero.”
Boyega will next be seen as the lead in Chase Palmer’s upcoming Naked Singularity, playing a successful public defender in the wake of losing his first case. The adaptation of Sergio De La Pava’s novel is currently in post-production having filmed prior to the Covid-19 lockdown. He’s also attached to star in Jeremy Saulnier’s upcoming Rebel Ridge, which is now in pre-production.
Empire stands in solidarity with Black people and people of colour against racist violence and systematic oppression, and we support the widespread protests currently taking place. Read here for our resource which includes links to petitions to sign, places to donate where possible, more information about Black Lives Matter, and recommended films by Black filmmakers that feel particularly pertinent to watch now and in future.