Actor John Boyega, star of “Small Axe: Red, White and Blue,” discusses the Star Wars reference he originally wanted to remove from the film, why he chose this as his follow-up to the Star Wars trilogy, what makes Steve McQueen a great director and more in this interview with CinemaBlend’s Jeff McCobb.
Synopsis: John Boyega plays real-life figure Leroy Logan, a member of the London Metropolitan Police Force who both witnessed and experienced firsthand the organization’s fundamental racism. Set in the ’80s, McQueen’s film captures Logan’s growing awareness of a system that he would one day try to dismantle from the inside, while also centering on his relationship with his father, a victim of white police brutality who initially refuses to accept his son’s decision to enter law enforcement. Red, White and Blue is richly evocative and politically charged, with an impassioned yet nuanced performance from Boyega.
Synopsis: John Boyega plays real-life figure Leroy Logan, a member of the London Metropolitan Police Force who both witnessed and experienced firsthand the organization’s fundamental racism. Set in the ’80s, McQueen’s film captures Logan’s growing awareness of a system that he would one day try to dismantle from the inside, while also centering on his relationship with his father, a victim of white police brutality who initially refuses to accept his son’s decision to enter law enforcement. Red, White and Blue is richly evocative and politically charged, with an impassioned yet nuanced performance from Boyega.
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00:00 I didn't even think he was going to leave it in there as well.
00:02 That was so funny.
00:03 So that was in the script before you then?
00:06 Yeah, it was in the script.
00:07 It was in the script.
00:08 I just never questioned it.
00:09 I just was like, "Oh, OK."
00:10 We mustn't be victims, but protagonists of our stories.
00:13 Don't you think it's time things were different?
00:17 Jon, congratulations, man.
00:18 You're just on fire in this.
00:20 It's really damn good.
00:22 I appreciate it. Thank you.
00:23 Steve McQueen has directed some of my favorite performances of all time.
00:27 What is it about this dude that really brings out the best in his actors?
00:31 I think Steve is an individual that is very passionate about the subject matter.
00:38 I think he's a very real individual and is able to express his emotions in any room.
00:44 And that kind of freeness and leadership is something that we all experienced on set.
00:48 And that gives you comfort and gives you the ability to delve into emotions,
00:53 to express the truth in scenes and express the truth in your characters as well.
00:58 I think that was just...
00:59 It was led by Steve and just the way he is, you know, for emotional scenes,
01:03 you are given support as well as scenes that are lighthearted and funny.
01:06 They all matter in this project.
01:09 And I just think that that collaboration is what just gave us
01:11 really, really good vibes on set.
01:13 Was this role written for you?
01:15 Were you in mind from the get?
01:17 I don't know.
01:17 I mean, they already wrote it.
01:19 Like, I don't know.
01:19 I just, you know, I got a call from my agent saying,
01:22 "Steve wants to go lunch to express a potential role."
01:25 And I was, you know, it came at a point where I just finished the Star Wars movies as well.
01:30 So I was considering, you know, what am I going to do with my life?
01:34 And then Steve McQueen calls.
01:35 That's what I'm going to do with my life.
01:36 So I just signed on.
01:39 My first experience with you was in Attack the Block, right?
01:45 So you've done a lot of these whimsical roles, a lot of action roles,
01:49 but then you've taken on some heavy stuff like this and Detroit comes to mind.
01:53 What's the difference in preparation?
01:56 Do you approach every role the same or is there a whole different feeling on set
01:59 when you're embodying this kind of character?
02:01 You know, I think for me so far of my experience,
02:05 there hasn't been one thing that I've left out in trying to embody any role.
02:09 I guess it just is the emotional relation to it.
02:13 And the conversations are definitely different.
02:16 And the portrayal is different.
02:18 You know, in something like Star Wars, you're probably going to go, "Woo!"
02:21 when something explodes, but if something exploded in red, white and blue,
02:25 there'd be tears and a much more grounded reaction to circumstances and issues.
02:30 So it's about merging.
02:32 I just like to be in films that I love,
02:35 like kind of loved, grew up watching,
02:37 and it goes across the spectrum for me.
02:39 So I just like to merge to different stuff.
02:42 Well, speaking of Star Wars, I have to ask about that line in Red, White and Blue
02:47 where you say you're going to join the force and he says...
02:49 That is Steve. I have not...
02:51 Like, I was just on set thinking, you know, there's a part of you that's just like,
02:56 "Should I ask to be taken out? Because doesn't that feel like it?"
02:59 I go, "Actually, wait a second.
03:00 Was he here? Star Wars is prominent.
03:02 Why wouldn't these characters... Yeah, that's fine."
03:04 It fit the time, too. So...
03:07 I didn't even think he was going to leave it in there as well.
03:09 That was so funny.
03:10 So that was in the script before you then?
03:12 Yeah, it was in the script. It was in the script.
03:14 I just never questioned it. I just was like, "Oh, okay."
03:17 (upbeat music)