'Black Panther' star Chadwick Boseman to play first African-American samurai

The actor is set to play characters that break barriers yet again

Black Panther's Chadwick Boseman is all set to break barriers yet again with Yasuke, the first African samurai to swing a sword in Japan, reported Deadline.

Fresh from playing the African warrior king in Avengers: Endgame, Boseman will now essay Yasuke, who served under Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga in 16th century Japan.

Yasuke is a historical figure and the first black man to set foot on Japanese soil. A Portuguese-Mozambique native who was brought in as a slave to Jesuit missionaries, Yasuke’s arrival sparked the interest of the ruthless warlord Nobunaga who sought to unite the fractured country under his rule.  A complex relationship developed between the two men as Yasuke earned Nobunaga’s friendship, respect and ultimately, the honour, swords and title of samurai.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/CHADWICK BOSEMAN

“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 recently. “That’s not just an action movie, that’s a cultural event; an exchange. And I am excited to be part of it.”

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It seems Boseman is used to playing characters that break the mould, considering his character T'Challa aka Black Panther is hailed as the first black superhero ever.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/CHADWICK BOSEMAN

Beyond the academy-award winning film, the actor has most recently starred as Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get On Up and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. The actor will next be seen in STX’s 21 Bridges, where he said he 'got lost in' his character, Detective Andre Davis, from the first read.

Even during the first read, I got lost in Detective Andre Davis's ride. Coming soon to theaters, here’s your first look at @21BridgesMovie! #21Bridges pic.twitter.com/zJonI3OGp7

— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) April 25, 2019

The 41-year old was so busy with shooting schedule that he could not attend the Met Gala last week, disappointing fans but sharing the outfit he wore last year.

#MetGala2018 was an experience I’ll never forget. Had such a great night in that @Versace. 👌🏾 I appreciate this year’s invite but due to my shooting schedule, I won’t be able to attend. Hope everyone enjoys! pic.twitter.com/w3TaFQmOx4

— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) May 6, 2019

We are looking forward to Boseman's samurai-sword weilding skills in Yasuke.

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