Interview: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Chats About His Role in ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’

With each passing year, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II becomes a bigger and bigger star in the business. Whether it was his part in Aquaman or especially his Emmy Award winning role in Watchmen, Abdul-Mateen II is a force to be reckoned with. His talents, as well as his strong screen presence, was on full display last year playing Bobby Seale in The Trial of the Chicago 7. Netflix’s big Oscar player from Aaron Sorkin features a wonderful cast, with Abdul-Mateen II leaving a huge imprint with limited screen time. Recently, he was generous enough to give us some time to chat with him about his career, and especially this Academy friendly part.

Below, you can hear my interview with Abdul-Mateen II. As a fan of the film (my rave review can be found here), I was thrilled to talk The Trial of the Chicago 7 with him. We briefly touched on his Emmy win for Watchmen (another highlight for the actor), and he even mentioned Matrix 4. Without question, the future is very bright for him, but the present is too. Just look at these recent roles and you see a man with almost limitless talent. When harnessed by Sorkin or other talented storytellers, he showcases it in a massive way. Plus, as you’ll hear next, he’s a delightful guy to talk to. It all made for a really nice discussion, one that was casual and informative in equal measure. Give it a listen and then revisit his turn as Seale. It’ll no doubt impress you even more.

Here now is my conversation with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Enjoy:

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II can currently be seen in The Trial of the Chicago 7, streaming on Netflix.