John Boyega slams Samuel L Jackson for creating 'conflict' among black actors

9 March 2017

John Boyega has slammed Samuel L. Jackson for creating "conflict" between Black British and African American actors.

John Boyega

The 24-year-old star - who grew up in Peckham, London - is furious with the Hollywood legend after he said black men from the UK should not be allowed to play American roles because he thinks they can't relate to the struggles African Americans have faced.

Boyega rose to fame in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' but earlier in his career, he played a young Los Angeles father who is released from prison in 'Imperial Dreams', and disagrees with Jackson.

He tweeted: "Black brits vs African American. A stupid ass conflict we don't have time for."

Jackson made the comments when he was asked his thoughts on a new movie titled 'Get Out' about an interracial marriage and starring British actor Daniel Kaluuya as an African-American man interacting with white liberal Americans.

The 68-year-old actor said recently: "I think it's great; [Get Out]'s doing everything it's doing and people are loving it. But ... I know the young brother who's in the movie, and he's British.

"So, there are a lot of black British actors in these movies. I tend to wonder what would that movie would have been with an American brother who really feels that."

Jackson added that Hollywood executives often go for British actors over Americans because they demand less money and they believe they are better trained actors.

He continued: "Daniel grew up in a country where they've been interracial dating for a hundred years ... What would a brother from America have made of that role? I'm sure the director helped, but some things are universal, but [not everything]

"[British actors] are cheaper than us, for one thing. They don't cost as much. And they [casting agents and directors] think they're better trained, because they're classically trained."

Other movies to cast British stars over Americans is David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King in 'Selma' and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the Oscar-winning '12 Years A Slave'.