Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Is Soon To Be The Next Blockbuster KingYahya Abdul-Mateen II is the Hollywood
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Is Soon To Be The Next Blockbuster King
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is the Hollywood heartthrob we have been waiting for. He’s the kind of man you wish you knew in real life; he’s smart, talented, fun and foine, exciting in all the right ways.
Just look at his résumé. His first big role, as “Cadillac” in Baz Luhrmann’s 2016 musical TV drama “The Get Down,” showed that he had superstar instincts. Cadillac was a disco-dancing gangster, and Abdul-Mateen got to be silly and intimidating in a flashy role that revealed just a sliver of his talent. Then, in rapid succession, he appeared in “Baywatch,” “The Greatest Showman,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Aquaman,” “Black Mirror” and “Us,” offering a broad scope of roles that prove he has the range. During the opening credits of one of his projects, you may not know what to expect — and that’s exactly how he likes it.
“It’s really about being able to have artistic freedom of choice,” Abdul-Mateen said over the phone. “I made it a point to not ever be typecast into a very specific role. That’s what that journey is for me, making sure that I’m not locked into a specific place and can exercise my curiosity. I’m very happy to be able to do that. I kind of like that that’s my calling card right now, too. I want other Black actors and creators to be able to do the same thing.“
