One Night in Miami gathers some of the greatest Black American heroes of the 1960s for a fictionalized meeting that explores them as individuals and as a force for good. Regina King’s directorial debut arrives January 15 on Amazon Prime Video, and it’s already got plenty of awards buzz.
Aldis Hodge, who plays the famous football player Jim Brown, spoke to Screen Rant about the research he did into his role and the aspects he most admired about Brown. He also gave the barest of hints about his upcoming role as Hawkman for the DCEU.
Your portrayal of the legendary Jim Brown brings this quiet strength to him, and it's a side we haven't really seen that much. What surprised you about Jim during your research?
Aldis Hodge: The thing that surprised me the most was his intelligence on the matter. I knew that he was an intelligent man, but his business acumen, to be so forward-thinking at this particular time and being able to take the risks that he took him in transitioning from one industry after he dominated to the next industry. And then, very soon after this point where we find them in the film, he establishes the Black Economic Union. He was also doing a lot of philanthropic work and activist work, especially when it came to other sports players in the in the arena at the time and certain things that were attacking them, culturally.
He was at the forefront of motivating movements and gatherings that supported what their agendas were; he was a natural leader. I think his proclivity for understanding the value in these things and being the guy who spearheaded the intent on a lot of these things was really impressive.
I read that one of your favorite interviews Jim did was an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show. Can you talk about why that interview spoke to you so much?
Aldis Hodge: Because this one interview, it wrapped up so much of what we still go through today and how we as a culture have had to deal with such things with class. He's on The Dick Cavett Show debating Lester Maddox, who is the governor of Georgia at the time, but he's also very open racist. Jim is debating Lester about segregation; it's really not much of a debate, but he's asking him how he feels. Lester gets so upset with the fact that he can't stand to reason with Jim; he can't stand to give this black man respect. He gets so irate, he just storms offstage.
But the entire time Jim maintains his composure, because everything he was saying was right. And the thing is, he was not trying to impose an opinion upon him. He was trying to only ask Lester, or talk to him as a means of understanding. This irate racist didn't even want to try to understand this black man; this intelligent, successful black man. Jim holding his composure whilst Lester is losing his mind, in order to get the point across speak, speaks so loudly to how we have managed ourselves for so long. We have to hold our composure just to get the point across, because we still have to convince people who would otherwise dismiss us to even listen.
But he was just so calm, cool, collected, and in control - because he knew his value. I think that's really a great example to set.
I couldn't have been happier to hear that you're going to be playing Hawkman, because I'm a huge fan of the JSA. What can we expect from the character of Carter Hall? Is there any particular storylines you've been diving into in order to really grasp the role?
Aldis Hodge: Now, you know good and well I can't say nothing. I can't tell you nothing.
As far as research, I've done all kinds of research. I read all the graphic novels, from the JSA to the Hawkman series. I find myself really enjoying who and what he is, and how he is, and I know what we have in store for how we're going to show him. It's got me really excited. So, I can't tell you none of that.
