John Boyega is gearing up for a new role as a younger version of the character played by Denzel Washington in the post-apocalyptic film ‘The Book Of Eli.’ This time, it’s for a prequel series. Adding to his acting role, Boyega is also on board as an executive producer.
The prequel takes us back thirty years before the original film, set three decades after a nuclear catastrophe. This means the story will probably happen right after the disaster, giving a new look at how the world and Washington’s character changed.
A TV Breakthrough For Boyega
The actor will work alongside Gary Whitta, who wrote the first movie, and directors Albert and Allen Hughes.
While this series will mark Boyega’s first major TV lead role, it will be another addition to his long history with sci-fi projects. Starting with ‘Attack The Block’ in 2011, the actor took part in many films, from the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy to Juel Taylor’s ‘They Cloned Tyrone.’
The Events Of The Original Film
Released in 2010, ‘The Book Of Eli’ starred Washington in the lead role, Eli. In a world ruined by nuclear destruction, his character’s mission was to take a mysterious book to a safe place on Alcatraz Island while dealing with Carnegie’s (Gary Oldman) evil schemes.
The cast included Ray Stevenson, Michael Gambon, Tom Waits, and Malcolm McDowell, as Eli teamed up with Jennifer Beals and Mila Kunis’s characters against the warlord.
While the original movie had mixed reviews, with a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was a box office hit, making $157 million against its $80 million budget.
