In a recent interview to Collider, actor Djimon Hounsou talked a little bit about Guardians of the Galaxy, the lack of diversity in superhero movies and being part of the Marvel family and more.
“Collider: At
Comic-Con, you talked about how important it was for you to be a part of
Guardians of the Galaxy because of your son’s recognition of the lack of
diversity in superhero movies. Does that
make it extra exciting to be a part of the film and to be working on that now?
DJIMON HOUNSOU: The
lack of diversity, specifically in genre films and the superheroes our kids
grow up watching and emulating, they can’t really identify with. When you see the same thing, over and over
again, and it seems not to speak of you and your heritage and your culture, it
leaves you out of this world, a little bit.
It gives a certain social distance with your world. So, it was very shocking when my son said
that. It shocked me, but at the same
time, it was not a surprise. It’s one of
those things that even I have been looking for.
I’m looking for a hero of my kind, and I’m looking for a shero of my
kind. Now, we have Zoe Saldana, who is a
shero for minorities, and that’s kind of nice.
What’s it like to be a part of the Marvel universe?
HOUNSOU: We like to
make the Marvel comics films because they’re fun. Families can go see them together. They’re entertaining. They aspire to inspire, and that is
cool. At the same time, not all of us
can identify and connect, necessarily.
But, Marvel movies are so much fun.
Those guys are creating fun stuff.
…
Because
you’re creating so much of it, are you mostly on a soundstage, or have you also
been shooting out on location?
HOUNSOU: We’re mostly on a soundstage, but some sets
were built on the outside. We’re in a
space world. It’s pretty cool. It’s really fun.
Did
your son also inspire you to do a voice for How to Train Your Dragon 2?
HOUNSOU: Yes, definitely. Also, I so desperately wanted to do Black
Panther (for Marvel animation and BET) because I felt like it was time for
it. If you look at the world of comic
books, Black Panther is one of the characters whose continent and country was
always being invaded and he was always trying to defend it. He’s kicked everybody’s ass, really. All those superheroes who have come, at one
point in time, to try to invade his country in Africa for minerals, he’s kicked
most of their asses. But, that’s part of
the story we don’t want to tell yet. I
thought it was fun, and that it would be great for my son to see that. He did see it and he said, “Papa, that sounds
like you! That’s your voice!” It’s fun.”
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