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Lupita Nyong’o has a new ambition: starring in a romantic comedy. At an event hosted by Paramount Pictures and Hollywood Confidential on June 14, Nyong’o openly expressed her desire to tackle the rom-com genre. The event celebrated the 10th anniversary of her Oscar win and her role in the upcoming “A Quiet Place: Day One.”
Known for her dramatic roles in “12 Years a Slave,” “Black Panther,” and Jordan Peele’s “Us,” Nyong’o is eager to show a different side of herself. “Please tell everybody I’m looking for the rom-com,” she announced at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles. “I am here. I’m taking calls. Listen, if I need to audition, I’ll do it. I’m dying to do a comedy.”
To showcase her comedic talents, Nyong’o has been posting playful videos online, featuring herself and her cat. “I’m trying to tell these executives that I’m funny and that I can be lighthearted,” she said. “But I do have more dramatic roles in the can than light ones, so someone’s just got to take a chance with me.”
In the meantime, Nyong’o continues her journey in horror with “A Quiet Place: Day One,” praising the franchise’s creator, John Krasinski, for his imaginative world-building. She compared the film’s tension-filled environment to childhood games, emphasizing the thrill of being in such a hyper-imaginative world.
Nyong’o also spoke highly of her co-star, Joseph Quinn, known for his role in “Stranger Things.” She found Quinn to be a hardworking and courteous actor, and she cherished their on-screen chemistry. “We very quickly got into a rhythm working together, and it was fun. It was always surprising,” she noted.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” shifts the narrative from the rural setting of the original film to the chaotic streets of New York City during an alien invasion. Nyong’o hopes the film will remind audiences of the irreplaceable cinematic experience. “This movie is made for that immersive cinematic experience,” she said. “There’s nothing as cool and satisfying as having a cathartic experience in a group setting.”
Hollywood Confidential’s event series, created by TV producer Steve Jones, aims to inspire and empower the next generation of entertainment professionals of color. Past honorees include Regina King, Angela Bassett, and Issa Rae. Nyong’o’s call for new opportunities in romantic comedies might just be the fresh inspiration Hollywood needs.
