Best Picks To Play John Henry (That Aren’t The Rock)
In today’s Oh HELL NAWL news, Netflix announced that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would star in “John Henry and the Statesman” (and also produce alongside Jumanji director Jake Kasdan) in a genuinely befuddling development that sent Black Twitter into a TIZZY.
Now, to be fair, The Rock has the ideal build and charisma for the role but just doesn’t give us John Henry who was a big, brolic, Blackity Black slab of suspender-wearing, hammer-slangin, ashy-knuckled man’s man whose legend lived on for generations. So yes, his casting is a big deal that inspired us to pick our very own actors to play the beloved folk hero.
Hit the flip for some Twitter chitter-chatter over The Rock’s casting and OUR choices to play skrong-backed hammer-slanger John Henry.
The Rock as John Henry…🧐🧐🧐
— Anathema BYOD (@CharlesPulliam) October 9, 2018
🧐🧐🧐 pic.twitter.com/sBba8C7nHG
— Anathema BYOD (@CharlesPulliam) October 9, 2018
They casted The Rock to play John Henry??? I like Dwayne and all but is he the only one out there acting?? Where is Winston Duke, Terry Crews, etc.?? This ain't it chief. pic.twitter.com/f6W5Zk2nMY
— Ashtynn (@ThatsSoAshtynn) October 9, 2018
H*ll freaking no. John Henry is a large muscular dark skinned black man and his love is a black woman. Terry Crews? Michael Jai White? Winston Duke…They need to stop the madness before it even begins. Woe betide them if they put him in a tanning bed and add makeup.😒 https://t.co/q8uDJAiDYq
— Mage of Micturition and 👸🏾of Free Flow (@catjacarol01) October 9, 2018
Now, for our picks of actors/ex-ballers PERFECT to play John Henry…
Winston Duke
Perfect height. Perfect build. Perfect voice. Imagine him giving a speech in front of the townsfolk about watching the white man’s steam locomotives from the mountains. He’s literally the perfect person to play John Henry.
Terry Crews
He’s a big, swole, ham hock of a man with proven acting chops and infectious charisma perfect for John Henry.
Michael Jai White
Between his booming voice, hulking build and larger-than-life appeal (See: Black Dynamite), he would make a very entertaining John Henry.
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Chadwick Boseman
He’s played legendary Black icons Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, Di Bleck Pentha and would KILL IT as Black folklore legend John Henry (despite his lack of height and swoleness)
Shannon Sharpe
He probably didn’t cross your mind as a potentially great John Henry but he embodies everything that is John Henry: A giant tree trunk of a man who eats grits with a mixing spoon from a large pot before slangin’ that hammer on them train tracks up yonder.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by D.Robinson GrindNowFlexLater (@_mr_que) on
Some Random Big, Swole, Thick-Necked Que
Just throwing this out there. John Henry would’ve DEFINITELY been a Que.
Mike Colter
He’s currently saving Harlem (and telling wayward youth to pull their pants up) as the bulletproof Luke Cage and miiiiight be a lil too corny to nail John Henry but his stature is ideal for the role.
Nate Parker
We know he’s “canceled” and short-ish but you could argue that his look and perspective are perfect for John Henry.
Rampage Jackson
He was enjoyable as Mr. T in the unappreciated “A-Team” movie and would bring the necessary toughness and grit to the role.
Shaquille O’Neal
We only put Shaq on this list to remind you that his name was JOHN HENRY in “Steel” that seemed loosely (and terribly) based on the classic folk tale
When the man comes around..
Honored to play a childhood hero of mine, JOHN HENRY & his disruptive band of fellow folklore legends from around the world. @netflix are the perfect partners and platform to build.
Directed by Jake Kasdan (JUMANJI).
JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN 🌎🔨 pic.twitter.com/vJ0nkCYXDH— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 9, 2018
Meh.
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