‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Director Defends Casting British Actor Daniel Kaluuya as U.S. Civil Rights Leader
Hanna Flint Guest Contributor“Judas and the Black Messiah” writer and director Shaka King has defended the casting of Daniel Kaluuya in the role of American civil rights leader Fred Hampton.The historical biopic, produced by Ryan Coogler and endorsed by Hampton’s son, Fred Hampton Jr, positions the British actor as the iconic leader of the Black Panther Party with Lakeith Stanfield playing the lesser-known William O’Neal, the FBI informant who infiltrated the political group and fed intel to the FBI and Chicago Police, leading to Hampton’s killing in 1969.“I’m well aware of the debate around British actors playing American Black, iconic figures,” King said during a virtual panel attended by Variety.