Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 21 February 2018
Q&A: Chadwick Boseman on his own personal Wakanda

By JAKE COYLE We talked about the fact Howard University. That’s
NEW YORK (AP) — No one that he wanted to cast him. all I really have to say. It is
is more at the epicenter of And I was right on board a Wakanda to a certain
the watershed pop-culture with that. I think the other degree. There is definitely a
moment that is "Black Pan- aspect was: How does lot of T’Challa there. If you
ther" than Chadwick Bose- a Wakanda exist in the have a blanketed idea of
man, the Panther himself. world? So he had this con- what it means to be of Afri-
On the eve of Ryan cept of the spy and War can descent and you go to
Coogler's juggernaut of Dog and I think it fit in line Howard University, you’re
a film arriving in theaters with what Kevin Feige had meeting people from all
— and shortly before step- originally pitched as the over the diaspora — from
ping out with his girlfriend idea that there's a James the Caribbean, any coun-
for Valentine's Day — Bose- Bond element to this, that try in Africa, in Europe. So
man has the relaxed air Black Panther is the James you’re seeing people from
of a politician who knows Bond of the MCU. all walks of life that look like
election day is going to go AP: Jordan's character you but they sound differ-
very, very well. Not only is In this Feb. 14, 2018 photo, actor Chadwick Boseman poses for a can't really even be called ent.
Marvel's acclaimed "Black portrait in New York to promote his film, "Black Panther." a villain, can he? There are AP: You’ve now played
Panther" expected to gross Associated Press laudable aspects to him. Robinson, Brown, Marshall
at least $150-180 million this Boseman: He's an an- and the Black Panther. Yet
weekend in North America, ic roles of Jackie Robinson inherits the throne but is tagonist. But if he was just it doesn’t seem as though
it's already considered a ("42"), James Brown ("Get challenged by a Wakan- a villain, it wouldn't be as you’ve been burdened by
brilliant milestone in Afri- on Up") and Thurgood Mar- dan exile named Killmon- compelling as it is. For all such iconic characters.
can-American big-budget shall ("Marshall"). The South ger, played by Michael B. intensive purposes, in the Boseman: I’m not in front
moviemaking. Carolina-native's acting Jordan. Many people have comic-book genre, he is a of the camera all the time
Mobbed wherever he goes career only blossomed in their own personal Wakan- villain. But we're two sides so you don’t get to see the
by selfie-seeking fans, the his '30s. He initially planned da, including Boseman. of the same coin. moments where I’m like,
41-year-old Boseman has to be a writer and director, AP: Did the production of AP: In that conflict, who do “Oh my God!” I just try to
experienced the excite- something he hasn't given "Black Panther" feel histor- you identify with? take it day to day and en-
ment firsthand. "People are up on. "Moonlight" direc- ic? Boseman: I identify with joy the process. I try not to
thirsty for it," he says. "That's tor Barry Jenkins last month Boseman: In some ways. I both. It's easier for me, in look at it as pressure but as
what you're witnessing signed on to direct a thriller think what we were just try- some ways, to identify with opportunity.
now." titled "Expatriate," co-writ- ing to do is make a good his character because it's AP: Are you surprised to
For Boseman, the role of the ten by Boseman. movie. We all knew from the place where you start. have been cast so fre-
Wakanda prince T'Challa "Black Panther" is about the the comic book and/or the All African-Americans — quently as a heroic lead?
(Black Panther), follows mythical and highly ad- script that there were ele- unless they have some di- Is there something of you in
what he calls "a string of vanced African nation of ments here that you'd nev- rect connection — have that?
gifts": the high-profile biop- Wakanda, where T'Challa er seen before in a movie been severed from that Boseman: There is now.
like this — in a Marvel mov- past. There's things that (laughs) There is now be-
ie, in an action movie, in cannot be tracked. And if cause I’ve played them. I
a blockbuster. So I felt like you are tracking it, you're feel honored to have taken
we knew there was an op- tracking it based upon the on those roles and to get
portunity here if we put the commercialization of your to learn from embodying
work in and paid attention humanity. You're tracking them and trying to walk in
to detail. Each day was it because you were cargo their shoes and get lost in
just a grind. It was a war. If freight. You were a prod- it. Certainly there’s a lot to
there's anybody I want to uct sold. So it's very difficult learn from Jackie Robinson.
go down a dark alley with as an African-American to There’s a lot to learn from
in movies, it's Ryan Coogler. connect directly to Africa. James Brown. There’s a
We didn't know how peo- I have made that part of lot to learn from Thurgood
ple would respond to that my search and my life, so Marshall. I would like to say
opportunity. We just want- those things were already that some of those qualities
ed to create the art. there when I got to the role. have infused themselves
AP: How did Ryan explain So I was born with some Kill- into me at this point.
his vision for the film in your monger in me and I have AP: How do you plan to
first meetings? learned T'Challa through- spend opening weekend?
Boseman: Our initial con- out my studies. Boseman: First I got to get
versations were about the AP: Tell me about some of some rest because we’ve
conflict between myself those studies. been on this tour for a min-
and Michael in the movie. Boseman: Well I went to ute. q

budgetaruba@setarnet.aw