Laurence Fishburne, the celebrated actor renowned for his diverse and impactful roles, is once again in the spotlight with his latest cinematic endeavor, Slingshot. During an engaging interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Fishburne offered a deep dive into the complexities of his role in this new sci-fi thriller and took a nostalgic glance back at his unforgettable portrayal of Perry White in the Superman films.

Slingshot, a film directed by the talented Mikael Hafstrom, is eagerly anticipated and set to debut this weekend. Fishburne stars as Captain Franks, leading a crew on a perilous multi-year mission to Saturn’s moon, Titan. As the mission unfolds, tensions escalate within the team, particularly as astronaut John, portrayed by Casey Affleck, starts to lose his grip on reality, creating a tense atmosphere aboard the spacecraft.

Despite Fishburne’s extensive background in science fiction, he emphasized that his involvement in Slingshot was driven by the narrative itself rather than a desire to outdo his previous work in the genre. “I’m not thinking about the other things that I’ve done in the genre,” Fishburne explained. “With Slingshot, I was just really intrigued by the story and very surprised at the twist and the way that everything resolves itself—or doesn’t resolve itself, depending upon your point of view. It was written in such a way that I couldn’t figure out where it was going, and that is very exciting for me.”

Fishburne also commended Hafstrom and the film’s design team for their inventive approach to creating the spaceship’s environment, which masterfully balances a sense of vastness and confinement. “The ship is deceptively small and large,” he noted. “It’s basically a circle, so there are times when it seems really huge, and then there are these other places in it where it’s really tight and cramped, and you can’t turn around without stepping on somebody.”

Expressing his enthusiasm for working alongside Casey Affleck, Fishburne shared his admiration for the actor’s unique style. “I’m a big fan of Casey’s work and always wanted to work with him,” Fishburne said, likening Affleck’s acting style to the late trumpeter Chet Baker. “He’s really cool. He’s got this great sense of lyricism, sense of humor, a great sense of romance, and this beautiful melancholy. He has a genuine intelligence and a great vulnerability and sensitivity that I just really, really admire.”

Beyond Slingshot, Fishburne remains a powerhouse in the entertainment industry with several upcoming projects, including Megalopolis, The Astronaut, and the animated film Transformers One. His recent roles as Bill Foster in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp and Perry White in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice have further cemented his legacy as a versatile and influential actor.

Reflecting on his portrayal of Perry White, Fishburne expressed pride in his contribution to the Superman films. “That was beautiful. Man of Steel is a wonderful movie. If I’ve been influential in any way in terms of that whole nontraditional casting thing, I love it. That’s great,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of reprising his role as the Silver Surfer, a character he voiced in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Fishburne responded with a chuckle, “Well, we’ll see.”

Looking back on his prolific career, Fishburne acknowledged the recent surge in projects as a result of the pandemic and industry strikes. “It’s weird,” he admitted, “It’s just a lot of stuff.”

In conclusion, Fishburne reflected on his journey in the film industry with heartfelt gratitude. “It’s been a beautiful, beautiful career, and I’m extremely grateful for all of it,” he said.