John Boyega opened up about preparing for his upcoming role in biopic Otis & Zelma alongside Danielle Deadwyler, revealing that fans will see him sing in the movie.
The film will explore the life of the iconic soul singer and his decade-long relationship with his wife, Zelma.
Boyega, known for Star Wars and Attack the Block, will portray Redding, while Deadwyler takes on the role of Zelma in this story about their love and Redding's influential career, which featured hits like (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay and These Arms of Mine before his tragic death in a 1967 plane crash at just 26.
Variety reported last month that the film will “celebrate the 10 short years Otis and Zelma had together, and their eternal love story after his passing,” with full support from the Redding estate.
Following her husband’s death, Zelma built her own booking agency, record store, and nightclub, and she chose never to remarry. “Never will,” she told The New York Times in 2022. “I love being Mrs. Otis Redding. I’m the only one.”
At the launch gala for the 2025 Pirelli Calendar at The Natural History Museum, where Boyega is one of this year's featured stars, he spoke to The Standard about the intense training he's undergoing for biopic, along with preparations for Attack the Block 2 and an additional secret project.
Taking a break from his strict training regimen for the event, he joked: “My trainer has already said, ‘I saw some pasta in your video.’ So I’ve got to get back to LA and focus.”
Discussing his preparations to portray the iconic American singer, Boyega said that he’s working with a dialect coach, and teased he’ll be singing in the biopic.
“Like any other role, I haven’t been British in a role in a minute so we’re very much used to the dialect coaching, training,” he explained. “There’ll be some singing and dancing too.”
Boyega joined photographer Ethan James Green at the event, alongside stars like Padma Lakshmi, Simone Ashley, Alex Cosani, Martine Gutierrez, Elodie Di Patrizi, and Tonne Goodman, who styled the 2025 calendar.
Also in attendance were Pirelli's Executive Vice Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera and host Immy Barclay.
On the red carpet, American TV star Lakshmi, 54, shared that she had no hesitation about posing nude for the calendar, which honors the Pirelli Calendar’s iconic roots while celebrating beauty in a sensual and artistic way.
Titled Refresh and Reveal, this year's calendar showcases a diverse range of actors, artists, singers, and models, many of whom have worked with Green before.
“I know Ethan [James Green] and really trusted him,” Lakshmi explained. “It was a beautiful concept—very comfortable, very safe.” She continued, “I love working with Ethan because he’s clear about what he wants and empathetic to his subjects. He is incredibly talented.”
Supermodel Alex Cosani also attended to support Green, following her groundbreaking appearance at the Victoria's Secret runway show.
She shared her excitement for Charli XCX, who recently received seven Grammy nominations.
Cosani reflected on her connection with the London native, saying, "I’ve been a fan forever. It’s crazy that people associate me with her success, but it’s all her. To know her and see her work ethic is incredible. I'm grateful to be part of everything happening right now."
Elsewhere, American TV star and actress Lakshmi, 54, told us on the red carpet that she had no reservations about posing nude for the calendar, which is a modern tribute to the iconic Pirelli Calendar’s roots, celebrating beauty in a sensual and deeply artistic style.
Titled Refresh and Reveal, the calendar features an impressive lineup of actors, artists, singers, and models from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have worked with Green before.
The former Top Chef host shared: “I know Ethan [James Green] and I really trusted him. It was a beautiful concept, very comfortable, very safe.”
Adding: “I love working with Ethan because he’s very clear about what he wants, he’s also very empathetic to the subject as he did that to himself. He is incredibly talented. “
Supermodel Alex Consani was also in attendance to support her long-time friend, Green, following her historic Victoria's Secret runway show.
Aside from praising Candice Swanpoel for being so "kind" throughout her VS experience, she told us she was very excited for London native Charli XCX after she landed seven Grammy nominations over the weekend.
The runway star, 21, who appeared in the video for Charli's 360, said on being a part of the singer's success breaking through into the mainstream: "I've been a fan forever, it's crazy to me that like people associate me with her success because obviously that was all her.
"To be able to have known her, and know her, see her work ethic on set is incredible and I'm grateful to be apart of all these iconic things happening right now."
