Chadwick Boseman to Play First Black Samurai, ‘Yasuke’

Chadwick Boseman is breaking barriers with his latest role. 

The “Black Panther” star has been cast to play Yasuke, the first African samurai in Japanese history. 

According to the Variety, “the movie will be produced by Erik Feig’s recently unveiled Picturestart, Michael De Luca and his De Luca Productions company, Stephen L’Heureux and his Solipsist banner, and Boseman and Logan Coles’ Xception Content.”

Apparently, “Narcos” co-creator Doug Miro is writing the script, which centers on the “first black man to step foot on Japanese soil.” The character Yasuke was a slave and native of Portuguese Mozambique brought to Jesuit Missionaries. The story closely follows his “complex” relationship as a servant of Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga in 16th century Japan and his journey to becoming a samurai.

“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.”