Creator LeSean Thomas tells EW he hopes his show will be a “gateway” for viewers into anime.
Yasuke, the world’s first African samurai, had to fight for his place in history.
He’s about to change that now, albeit with a supernatural twist.
Netflix
Record producerFlying Lotuscrafted the music forYasukeand also helped shape the story with Thomas and Stanfield.
I want to check that out.'"
Thomas came across the story of Yasuke about a decade ago.
Netflix
Thomas didn’t seriously consider creating a show around Yasuke until he became more confident pitching series years later.
“I pitched three andYasukewas one of them,” he says.
(Before his death in August 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman wasset to playYasuke in a historical biopic.)
Stanfield and Flying Lotus (a.k.a.
One of them, a young girl, was Ellison’s creation.
“That’s when the story became more interesting,” Thomas notes.
Thomas recognizes the obvious parallels between Yasuke and his own story.
That’s kind of cool," he says.
It made it more fun."
Thomas instead saw this connection as “an opportunity” to entertain people.
That’s what he likes to do.
He isn’t close to being comfortable putting his own story into his work just yet.
“I am not a Japanese person.
Yasukepremieres April 29 on Netflix.
