Chadwick Boseman did an exceptional job embodying several cultural icons on the big screen, and he’s adding another to the list. Black Panther actor landed the lead role in Yasuke, true story of the first African man to ever swing a samurai sword.
Yasuke arrived to Japan in 1579, serving under Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga expressed an interest in this newcomer, and asked Valignano to leave him behind. Yasuke eventually went on to become the first African man to ever become a samurai.
In an official press release, Chadwick Boseman said he’s excited to be a part of this project, written by Doug Miro. He described Yasuke as not just an action movie, but a cultural event, because it will shine the light on one of history’s best kept secrets.
This won’t be the first time we’ll get to see Boseman portraying an important historical figure. He also played Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get On Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall.
