When it comes to acting, Bokeem Woodbine is a bad boy. Don’t believe us? Well go back and check out his resume and some of the strong performances that he’s turned in with films ranging from Dead Presidents and Jason’s Lyric to TNT’s “Saving Grace.” But those proven acting chops aside, Woodbine still found himself on the outside looking in when it came to the notoriety that often accompanies actors of his caliber.
But that may change now that he’s set to star in M. Knight Shyamalan’s upcoming thriller Devil. With a great movie on the horizon and a change in his perspective towards the media, Woodbine seems primed for a career revival of sorts. His exclusive conversation with rolling out proves that he agrees with our assessment. Check out the goods.
This new film “Devil” with M. Knight Shyamalan is certainly generating a considerable amount of buzz. Do you think this film has the potential to be big?
I typically don’t get into predicting the success of my projects. I’ve been involved with a lot of projects that I thought should have really gained notoriety, and furthered my career only to be met with the cold grasp of disappointment. So I typically stay away from predicting how a film will do.
But you can say that you think this film is good though, right?
I can … I think it’s great, man. This film is taking the genre to a higher level. It’s an intellectual and psychological experience that I hope the audience will embrace.
You mentioned past movies not furthering your career. Are there other factors that may have attributed to you not being as known as you would like?
I was cocky and arrogant when I was younger. I thought that if I delivered a good performance, and put my best foot forward, that would be enough to get people’s attention. So in my naivety, I cut my legs off at the knees, because I didn’t realize that oftentimes it doesn’t matter about the performance … it’s the media that creates stars. You can be a dynamic actor, but could never be a star if you never spend time with the media. That’s something that I neglected to do. Not too long ago, I finally put my finger on it, and realized that that is what was missing from my game. I’m trying to play the game now. I’ve found weaknesses that I didn’t know that I had, and I’ve found strengths that I didn’t know I had. It’s all a process.
**Devil opens in theaters nationwide on Sept. 17**
