Last year’s ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ topped over $1billion, and the recently-released ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ caused an upset at the box office after overthrowing cultural behemoth ‘Black Panther’. So it’s easy to say star John Boyega is at his hottest in Hollywood right now. Having been visiting Nigeria frequently, from the United Kingdom where he was born and raised, it has always been low-key. Until now, as the 27-year-old actor finally came on a self-described ‘business trip’.
The minute he landed Lagos, over a week ago, headlines screamed that he is here to shoot a Nollywood movie which will cost $25 million, roughly N8billion. But at the Abuja dinner, he clarified that he is looking at spending that much, just not entirely on a single flick, but a retinue of “indie-type art-house movies”, as he told Daily Trust. “We’re developing a few Nigerian stories and choosing one which makes the most sense, budget-wise, to begin with,” he said, over dinner.
Boyega answered questions from the audience, and he expressed his interest in telling Nigerian stories, having reached a vantage position in Hollywood. “It’s a chance [for me] to develop these stories, merging Hollywood’s technical know-how and production values with Nollywood’s awe-inspiring talent, and hopefully bring the most genuine and important stories to light, but captured in a very important and professional way,” Boyega said. “I’ve been interested in Nigerian stories for a very long time, but it’s just that now I’ve worked to a point where I have the opportunity to actually do something.”
As live music played in the background, a full three-course dinner was served, courtesy of The Play Network in Abuja. Boyega went from table to table, meeting and greeting guests, striking conversation, and full of energy. When asked his thoughts on Nollywood movies, he answered: “I grew up on them, and the first one I ever watched was ‘Blood Sisters’, starring Genevieve Nnaji.”
Daily Trust asked if his massive fame now has him with a different lifestyle, and he responded: “Not at all. I actually enjoy doing ‘normal’ things with my friends and hanging out like anyone my age.” He also said he does not get mobbed by fans, even after his now-iconic role on the new Star Wars movies. “Strangely, one of the weirdest incidents of a fan spotting me involves a probably-Nigerian fellow who kept staring at me. When I stared him back, he called at me ‘Ugwu!’ after my character in ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’. You’d think he’d recognise me for Star Wars, but no,” the star laughed.
When asked about recent reports that he’s in talks with Marvel to join their cinematic universe, Boyega simply smiled and dodged the question. Pressed if it’s Blade, the half-human half-vampire character made popular by Wesley Snipes, he told Daily Trust: “That would be a disservice to Snipes, who was the perfect actor for that character.” He added that the talks with Marvel are ongoing, and too early to call.
On what plans he has in the future for the local industry, he said: “This trip is basically for intel, to be educated about the infrastructure here, what is in place, what is not in place and what requires to be done, what it takes for a major studio in Hollywood to come down here and collaborate with the best from Nigeria and work on stories that will be filmed here.”
Boyega also told Daily Trust that his parents always told him to visit Nigeria. “I’ve been here a good number of times, since 2001. My parents told me ‘when you’re of age and you’ve established yourself enough to transfer your skills to others, you have to go back home’. So, while I’m just doing what I’ve been told to do, I’m enjoying it.”
The ‘Attack The Block’ star said while young actors have the energy and work ethic to succeed in the movie industry globally, the Nigerian government should provide the platform to nurture talents, adding that he was lucky to have grown up in a country where one is available. “These talents could be Nigeria’s ambassadors, and attract people from all over the world to our country, and entertainment changes the mind set of people about a country,” he added.
Boyega also revealed that since story is all-important to a great movie, he will head to the Caribbean with his producing partner, to isolate themselves, and develop a number of stories. “That’s because one of the things foremost on my mind, is that there’s no rush,” he smiled.
The actor also took time out, especially in Lagos, to promote ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ by movie theatre appearances and TV and radio interviews. He had spent last Christmas in Nigeria for an unofficial trip, and attended a Wizkid concert, also taking part in the Calabar Christmas Carnival.
