Chadwick Boseman

CHADWICK BOSEMAN

The Black Panther star on being a different kind of hero.

WHAT’S CONSIDERED GREAT OR CLASSICAL IS OFTEN BRITISH

One of the biggest hits of the year has been Marvel’s Black Panther, out on DVD this month. A spectacular superhero film, the comic book adaptation gave 41-year-old Chadwick Boseman the kind of stardom he has deserved for years having been the star of dramas such as 42, Get On Up and Marshall.

The character was introduced in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, but the plan was always for Black Panther to be established in his own right. “I was aware of it, but I didn’t know other people didn’t know, so I’m sorry about that!” he jokes at a press conference for the film. “But at the same time, I’m glad it’s a surprise for people.”

It was also a surprise for the actor himself, who had to make changes to his mobile phone plan in order to get the role! “I was in Zurich, I was coming off of the James Brown biopic Get On Up” he recalls. “The crazy thing is, I didn’t have International Calling set up on my phone, so my agent called and said ‘get International Calling on your phone, call your mum, then call me because there’s some important news!’ Then Kevin (Feige, Marvel Chief) called that night.”

The film has been praised as offering a different kind of big screen hero, and Boseman believes this is a step forward in celebrating a more diverse group of creative inspirations. “I think as actors, when you’re training you are training very often from a European perspective” he says. “What’s considered great or classical is often British, and you’re only studying certain writers. I studied at Howard (University, Washington) and we were taught to respect our writers and our classics just as much, and believe that it takes the same skill level and the same technique.”

Some critics initially questioned the idea of an American using an African accent for a film role, however the classically trained star believes it is in keeping with the deepest acting traditions. “I think to tell stories you have to be true to yourself as an artist” he explains. “I believe that the intinations and melodies of an African accent are just as classical as a British one, or a European one, and that all of the emotions as aspects of a character can be shown through that accent.”

Black Panther is released on DVD 11th June.