*John Boyega criticized “Star Wars” for its lack of diversity in an interview for the new Apple TV+ documentary “Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood.”
Boyega, who portrayed Finn in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi,” faced racist backlash from fans who opposed a Black actor taking on a leading role in the franchise.
“Lemme tell ya, ‘Star Wars’ always had the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space. It’s a franchise that’s so white that a Black person existing in [it] was something,” Boyega said in the documentary, Variety reports. “You can always tell it’s something when some ‘Star Wars’ fans try to say, ‘Well, we had Lando Calrissian and had Samuel L. Jackson!’ It’s like telling me how many cookie chips are in the cookie dough. It’s like, they just scattered that in there, bro!”
The actor added, “They’re okay with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, it’s just a bit too much! They’re pandering.’”
Produced by industry powerhouses Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Datari Turner, and Dan Cogan, “Number One on the Call Sheet” shines a spotlight on the triumphs and challenges faced by Black actors as they navigate the entertainment industry, per the news release.
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“Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood,” directed by Reginald Hudlin, features some of Hollywood’s most celebrated Black male actors, including Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Idris Elba, and Michael B. Jordan. With personal insights from these industry legends, the documentary delves into the evolution of Black male leads in film, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and the blueprint for sustained success. The film also includes commentary from key industry figures such as Reuben Cannon, Nina Shaw, and Quentin Tarantino.
The companion documentary, “Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood,” is directed by Shola Lynch and features icons such as Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, and Octavia Spencer. These women, along with contributors like Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, and Tessa Thompson, share their experiences of breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and redefining Hollywood’s traditional narratives about Black women.
“Number One on the Call Sheet” is now available to stream on Apple TV+.
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