Leading actors, directors, and writers in Hollywood and the wider entertainment industry have rallied around John Boyega after the Star Wars actor gave an impassioned speech during the Black Lives Matter protest in London.
Boyega – who declared “I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but f*** that,” before addressing the crowds – was initially supported by Oscar-winning Hair Love writer and director Matthew A. Cherry, who said on Twitter, “I would work with John Boyega and I urge other Non-Black creators to affirm that they have his back as well.”
I would work with John Boyega and I urge other Non-Black creators to affirm that they have his back as well. https://t.co/SqXgmIS5aRJune 3, 2020
Following the tweet, several of film and TV’s leading lights lent their support.
Such was the volume of responses both reaching out to Boyega for upcoming projects and promising that, yes, he very much has a career after his Black Lives Matter speech and it’d be almost impossible to list everyone.
Among those shouting from the rooftops about Boyega on social media included fellow Star Wars castmate Mark Hamill, Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, directors Phil Lord, Duncan Jones, and Edgar Wright, Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, Elizabeth Banks, Cathy Yan, Paul Feig, Peyton Reed and many, many more.
We stand with and support you, @JohnBoyega. View his full speech: https://t.co/Goxb5y2wrK pic.twitter.com/ZvE0t5tRPYJune 3, 2020
Never been more proud of you, John. @JohnBoyega ❤️, dad https://t.co/XcXvBcblPGJune 3, 2020
Have before and would again, in a heartbeat. So proud of John today. https://t.co/qLi4cwws2iJune 3, 2020
I would love to work w John Boyega https://t.co/zQTIP29SVRJune 3, 2020
Absolutely. I would be honored to work with @JohnBoyega and can only hope to have the chance. We’ve got your back, John. Don’t hold back. https://t.co/4d5gA3RRkjJune 3, 2020
I love all my fellow TV Writers out there affirming that we will hire @JohnBoyega any day of the week and twice on Sundays.Now let's do something similar for all the John Boyegas yet to be known. https://t.co/4GW55CnYRdJune 3, 2020
During the London protest, Boyega told crowds: “Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded regardless. And now is the time. I ain’t waiting… We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence.”
Boyega’s next project is Rebel Ridge, a Netflix movie which Variety describes as a “high-velocity thriller that explores systemic American injustices through bone-breaking action sequences, suspense and dark humour.”
For more on the Black Lives Matter movement – why it’s important, how to support, protest, and what you can do next – read journalist Elle Osili-Wood’s article here.
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