The Color Purple director Blitz Bazawule’s upcoming project about Yasuke, the first Black samurai, has reportedly landed at Warner Bros.
Sources revealed to Variety that the studio was involved in a “competitive” bidding war against three other studios and streamers. The project, which has a working title of Black Samurai, is written and will be directed by Bazawule, and will be produced via his Inward Gaze banner. Instead of serving as a biopic, however, Black Samurai will supposedly be more similar to 300 and Mad Max.
Yasuke was an African warrior who served as a samurai during Japan’s Sengoku period, under daimyō Oda Nobunaga. Not much is known about his life, including his origins and real name, prior to his arrival in Japan in 1579, although it was confirmed that he was in the country only until up to 1582.
Stay tuned for more info.
