Djimon Hounsou has been discussing his role in the upcoming Marvel epic, Guardians of the Galaxy, while he has been promoting his new movie, Baggage Claim.
Hounsou is set to play Korath the Pursuer in James Gunn’s adaptation of the beloved comic book series, which will also feature Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Benicio Del Toro, and Zoe Saldana.
Hounsou has now been discussing what it’s like to work on the project, telling Collider, “ Guardians of the Galaxy is a completely different world. It has no place in this world. Even for us, coming to set and looking at it, you go, ‘Wow!’ Every other day, you feel like you’re in a different part of the galaxy. You don’t feel like you’re on planet earth.”
The actor went on to discuss why the movies continue to be so popular, adding, “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.”
He then remarked, “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.”
Hounsou also touched on the lack of diversity in superhero movies, and he admitted that he accepted the role because his son had noted this in the genre himself.
Hounsou told the film website , “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.”
He continued, “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.”
[Image via Gage Skidmore/ Wikimedia]
