How many people were trying to act like they were Jesus around that time?
It was probably crazy.
And I know we were there, the Oscar-nominated actor tells EW.
LaKeith Stanfield in ‘The Book of Clarence’.Moris Puccio/Sony Pictures
Black people are the oldest people on the planet.
We were everywhere, but we’re not always represented that way.
I wanted to show that.
LaKeith Stanfield in ‘The Book of Clarence’.Moris Puccio/Sony Pictures
And I thought, I would want to see a movie like this.
and why audiences should check their preconceived notions at the door when seeingThe Book of Clarence.
Theres so much weed-smoking.
The Last Supper in ‘The Book of Clarence’.Courtesy of Sony Pictures
How would you describe this movie and the idea behind it?
And he looks at it as a way to take his family from rags to riches.
And he’ll do that by any means necessary.
James McAvoy as Pontius Pilate and LaKeith Stanfield as Clarence in ‘The Book of Clarence’.Moris Puccio/Sony Pictures
So he figures, “Well, Jesus is doing all these miracles.
Why don’t I just do ‘em?
I’m a nonbeliever anyway.
RJ Cyler and LaKeith Stanfield in ‘The Book of Clarence’.Moris Puccio/Sony Pictures
So I’ll do some miracles.
I’ll be able to get my family to a better place.
Everything will be fine.”
So he’s humbled and finds some redemption at the end of the story.
It’s a story of coming to understand one’s knowing rather than one’s belief.
It seems to me it’s less about Christianity and more about finding your purpose and reason for being.
I would agree with that, yeah.
I don’t view it as a religious film at all.
But it’s not religious.
In fact, Clarence, the lead character, isn’t religious at all.
He doesn’t even believe [Jesus’ miracles] in the beginning.
Believing in yourself, knowing yourself is an important lesson for us all in this life.
We have a go at understand the world as what human beings do.
We spend a lot of time trying to figure out this phenomenon, what’s going on around us.
So I would say maintaining a cynical perspective is necessary.
And I would sayalso, it’s a good thing to have going into this film.
I see no reason to be a part of things like that.
There definitely were people who wanted to do that.
Jesus was like the first celebrity.
Literally, “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
I mean, there were probably more people who wanted to do that than anything.
How many people were trying to act like they were Jesus around that time?
It was probably crazy.
This movie looks like it was a really fun to work on.
What was your favorite scene to shoot?
He’s funny, he’s so light on his feet.
Also withJames [McAvoy], he’s just a fun actor to work around with and play with.
Everybody was really amazing.
It’s hard to pick one, but I think it might be the scenes with RJ.
We’re about to shoot in an hour and you could give me all of these dance moves?
I’m like, This is crazy.
So I was super nervous, but we got through it by the grace of God.
When I freeform dance, I’m much better than this!
Guys, don’t think that I can’t dance!
It’s just that, goddamn it, I just got this.
I probably shouldn’t say goddamn it because…well anyway, henceforth.
Have you and Jeymes talked about maybe doing another project?
[maniacal laugh] If we did, I shant release that information!
I’d like to keep that on a cliffhanger.
The Book of Clarenceis in theaters now.
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