Chadwick Boseman To Play First African Samurai

There is an old Japanese proverb that says “For a Samurai to be brave, he must have a bit of black blood.” So it only seems fitting for actor Chadwick Boseman to be cast play the first African samurai, Deadline reports.

The film is set in 16th century Japan and will be produced by Erik Feig’s Picturestart, along with De Luca Productions, Solipsist Films, as well as Boseman and Logan Coles’ X●ception Content. Boseman will portray the life of Yasuke, a native of Portuguese Mozambique who was brought to Japan as a slave to Jesuit missionaries.

“The legend of Yasuke is one of history’s best kept secrets, the only person of non-Asian origin to become a Samurai,” Boseman said. “That’s not just an action movie, that’s a cultural event, an exchange, and I am excited to be part of it.”