Anthony Anderson on How Prime Video’s ‘G20’ Handles Black Representation

Prime Video‘s latest action movie G20 sees Viola Davis kicking some serious terrorist butt as U.S. President Danielle Sutton in what promises to be one heck of a thriller. Along for the ride is her co-star, Anthony Anderson, who portrays the First Gentleman, Derek Sutton. As we all know, there’s already been a Black family in the White House by way of the Obamas, yet for some, the idea is still something they struggle with. For Anderson, however, he believes that the Black representation in the film “shouldn’t be a surprise” at this point.

Speaking with MovieWeb’s own George Edelman, Anderson was joined by his fellow G20 stars Marsai Martin and Christopher Farrar to discuss various aspects of their new action movie. The subject of Black representation came up, and how everyone went about handling it in the Prime Video flick, which premieres on April 10. The portrayal of a Black family in the White House isn’t even something the movie really touches on, but rather is just there, front and center for everyone to accept. Anderson believes that’s the way it should be, especially now, after the Obamas helped break through that glass ceiling.

“Handling it the way that we handled it was just how it should be in real life. It’s not anything that should be discussed. It’s a representation of the world in which we live. It shouldn’t be a surprise that there is a Black family in the White House, or there is a brown family in the White House. It should just be accepted from the world in which we live in, and move on.”

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In addition to Davis, Anderson, Martin, and Farrar, G20 also features Puerto Rican actor Ramón Rodríguez, Korean-American actress MeeWha Alana Lee, South African star Emmanuel Castis, and Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore, so it’s clear that the film isn’t shying away from all aspects of representation. It’s already garnering high praise, with MovieWeb’s own Will Saye saying in his review:

“It’s too bad G20 is heading straight to Prime Video because the full-house advanced screening MovieWeb attended couldn’t have been livelier. The joyously raucous crowd reacted appropriately to every little twist and turn offered in Davis’ new starring vehicle, directed by award-winning filmmaker Patricia Riggen.”

Anthony Anderson Explains How the Obamas Helped Bring His Character to Life

In addition to speaking with MovieWeb, Anderson was also interviewed by US Weekly ahead of the release of G20, and touched on just how the relationship between Barack and Michelle Obama helped inform the choices he and Davis made as actors. The Obamas have never been shy about their love for one another, and Anderson says that’s something the pair wanted to portray on screen.

“The relationship that we saw between Barack and Michelle was something that we brought to the screen for our characters. Showing our independence and our love for one another, and just Black love in general.”

You can see for yourself how all the action, drama, and wonderful representation plays out when G20 hits Prime Video on April 10. Be sure to check out our interview with Anderson and company above, in which they also discuss a possible Black-ish reunion down the line.

Source: US Weekly