Djimon Hounsou, star of the upcoming Shazam! Fury of the Gods recently expressed disappointment in not receiving an Oscar for his role in the 2019 film Same Kind of Different as Me. He felt particularly robbed after Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his role in The Father, a $58.3M Steven Spielberg film.
Djimon Hounsou spoke about the lack of recognition for Black actors in the industry and shared his experience growing up in poverty in Benin and France. Despite his success in Hollywood, he believes there is still a long way to go in achieving equality and fairness for Black actors.
Djimon Hounsou Was Sure About Getting An Oscar
In a recent interview, Djimon Hounsou bemoaned his Oscar snub, citing the success of Anthony Hopkins in a Steven Spielberg movie that cost $58.3 million as an example.
“I definitely would have gotten an Oscar if it weren’t for that film. I mean, come on, how can a little indie movie like Shazam! Fury of the Gods compete with something like that?”
Some of Hounsou’s remarks have been met with backlash from fans and business professionals. The Academy has wrongfully passed over the actor, and many feel bad about it. Yet, his words have been criticized for making him sound entitled and resentful.
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The actor originally got widespread recognition and a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the 1997 movie Amistad. Since then, he’s starred in several critically acclaimed movies, including Blood Diamond and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Despite all of Djimon Hounsou’s accomplishments, he has only been nominated for an Oscar twice for his supporting performances in In America and Blood Diamond. The prized trophy has eluded him thus far.
Where Is Djimon Hounsou Oscar Nomination?
One possible explanation for the actor not being nominated for an Oscar is the nature of the positions he has been given. Unfortunately for Djimon Hounsou, his ability to portray various parts has been severely curtailed by his frequent typecasting as either a slave or a warrior due to his race. Hounsou has already addressed this issue, which is common for performers of color in Hollywood.
Even yet, Djimon Hounsou is not the kind to give up when faced with difficulty. Despite all he’s been through, he still believes in the industry’s potential.
“I think things are changing. There’s more awareness now about the need for diversity in film, and I’m hopeful that we’ll see more opportunities for actors of color in the coming years.”
Meanwhile, Hounsou is occupied with his most recent film, Shazam! Fury of the Gods. The 2019 smash blockbuster Shazam! spawns this sequel, which has already earned over $365 million worldwide. In the film, Asher Angel portrays the young foster kid Billy Batson. Djimon Hounsou is the Wizard who bestows superpowers upon him so that he may become the superhero Shazam.
Despite his disappointment with the Oscars, Djimon Hounsou is thrilled to be a part of the DC Universe and is looking forward to his fans seeing him in the role. The actor says there’s respect for being a member of a business like this. The opportunity to contribute to a goal greater than oneself is deeply rewarding. To this day, Hounsou hasn’t given up on his Oscar dreams.
“I’m not giving up on that dream. I know there are great roles out there for me, and I’m just waiting for the right one to come along. When it does, I’ll be ready.”
For now, Djimon Hounsou fans can see him in Shazam 2. Perhaps by this time next year, he will finally accept his Oscar.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is now in theatres.
Source: The Guardian
