Chadwick Boseman is no stranger to bringing cultural icons to life on the big screen, and he’s getting ready to do it once again. TheBlack Panther star has been cast as the first African samurai to set foot in Japan in Blood of Yasuke.
According to the legends, Yasuke was born in Mozambique and ended up being sold into slavery. He arrived to Japan in 1579 and quickly caught the eye of Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga.
The two men developed a complex relationship, and Nobunaga eventually allowed him to become the first African man to swing a sword in Japan and earn the title of samurai.
Boseman was drawn to this script written by Doug Miro because it explores monumental part of history that most people know nothing about.
“The legend of Yasuke is one of history’s best kept secrets, the only person of non-Asian origin to become a Samurai. That’s not just an action movie, that’s a cultural event, an exchange, and I am excited to be part of it,” he explained in official statement.
