*Machine Gun Kelly recently revealed he turned down an opportunity to audition for Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed horror film “Sinners.”
During a July 31 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the rapper explained, “Like ‘Sinners,’ I was supposed to be in that,” referring to the role of Bert, a Klan member turned vampire portrayed by Peter Dreimanis, TODAY reports. Kelly opted out due to the character’s use of a racial slur, stating, “In the audition, he has to say the ‘n-word’ and I wouldn’t do it.”
“Sinners,” a vampire thriller starring Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, and Saul Williams, has been a global box office sensation, grossing over $400 million since its April 18 debut. Set in a Southern town, it follows twin brothers (both played by Jordan) who return from Chicago after working with Al Capone, aiming to open a juke joint. Their plans unravel when they encounter a menacing vampire, played by Jack O’Connell, sparking a supernatural battle.
In an interview with USA Today, Coogler explained: “This movie for me was about identity, as my movies always are, and how people see themselves […] Smoke sees himself as a father and as a man who’s unredeemable because of his past sins, but he also sees himself as a soldier. For him, soldier means he’s a killer.” The Southern setting of “Sinners” held deep significance for Coogler, who spent time around New Orleans during production.
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He jokingly added, “I would really like to be recruited into a movie while I still got some looks.” Kelly’s previous roles include “Captive State” and “The Dirt,” where he played Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.
The film’s initial success, with $48 million domestically and $63 million globally in its opening weekend, underscores its cultural impact.
In a conversation with journalist Amy Goodman for Democracy Now!, Coogler reflected on what the filming experience meant personally, saying: “So, this movie was a very interesting opportunity for me to do some research about my lineage. And I had that opportunity before with the Panther films. And in that situation, you know, me being a foundational Black American, my family has been here, you know, for over 400 years, essentially, in North America. But, you know, the Panther films allowed me to travel back to the continent of Africa and spend time there and contemplate our distant ancestry as it relates to the continent, as it relates to the diaspora.”
Despite passing on “Sinners,” Kelly remains eager to expand his acting career. “I have a lot of aspirations to be in movies, it just hasn’t panned out that way,” he shared, trusting in “universal timing” for the right roles.
You can now stream “Sinners” on HBO Max.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: ‘Sinners’ Now Streaming on Max Includes Black American Sign Language Version Option | WATCH
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