Tag Archives: Steve McQueen

Boyega to star in Netflix crime movie

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Nigerian-British Star Wars actor John Boyega is to star in Netflix’s original film The Formula alongside screen icon Robert De Niro.

John Boyega

Written, directed and produced by Gerard McMurray (The First Purge, Burning Sands), the movie follows the story of a Formula 1 racing prodigy, played by Boyega, who is forced to become a getaway driver to save the only family he has left. He becomes an international racing star in the world of Formula 1 under the tutelage of his mentor with old mob ties.

The movie will be executive produced by Jason Michael while Sam Shaw and Buppie Productions’ Ephraim Walker serve as coproducers and Jane Rosenthal, De Niro and Berry Welsh as producers.

McMurray set up Buppie to develop and produce entertaining stories featuring black characters for a mainstream film and television audience.

The exec said on Instagram: “Feels amazing to see this idea in my head finally come to life that I’m writing, directing, and producing. My new production company, Buppie Productions, is teaming up with Tribeca Films and Netflix to bring to you a dope original film coming soon called The Formula starring two of my favourite actors: John Boyega and Robert De Niro.”

Boyega recently starred in Red, White & Blue, a film from the anthology series Small Axe directed by Steve McQueen. He previously starred in the Star Wars franchise and Detroit and is currently in production on They Cloned Tyrone with Jamie Foxx.

The release date for The Formula is yet to be announced.

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Star Wars’ Boyega stars in BBC drama

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British-Nigerian Star Wars actor John Boyega will star in Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen’s BBC1 drama Small Axe (6×60′) next year.

John Boyega

The UK public broadcaster’s show, which also stars Black Panther actor Letitia Wright, tells five different stories over six episodes set in London’s West Indian community between the 1960s and 80s.

The series is executive produced by Tracey Scoffield and David Tanner for Turbine Studios and McQueen for Lammas Park. Shooting began on location in London on June 24.

The drama was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, director of BBC Content, and the executive producer for the BBC is Lucy Richer, senior commissioning editor for drama. BBC Studios is handling worldwide sales.

McQueen, who is also the show’s executive producer, said: “I felt these stories needed to be shared. I wanted to relive, re-evaluate and investigate the journeys that my parents and the first generation of West Indians went on to deliver me here today, calling myself a black British person. What’s important about our stories is that they are local but at the same time global.

“I think audiences will identify with the trials, tribulations and joy of our characters as well as reflecting on the present environment in which we find ourselves. The dynamic nature of the series allows us to confront injustice in the face of adversity.”

Boyega has appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the film adaptation of the hit novel A Naked Singularity, sci-fi romance Hold Back the Stars and also produced South African thriller God is Good. McQueen’s credits include Widows and Twelve Years A Slave.

Production is currently underway on location in London. Small Axe is newly formed production company Turbine Studios’ first project. The company was set up last year by producers Scoffield and Tanner alongside Andrew Eaton (The Crown, The Trip) and Justin Thomson (The Fall, Death Comes To Pemberley).

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