He’s a member of The Black Eyed Peas, an internationally known recording superstar heard and beloved by millions. All fine and good - but you ain’t never heard will.i.am sing like this.
“Root-a-toot-toot! I’m doing ‘Wolverine’!” the singer crooned exclusively to MTV News in his first interview about the high-profile “X-Men” prequel. “That’s cool! I don’t mean to toot my own flute, but toot-a-toot-toot!”
It’s all smiles these days for will.i.am with the recent news that he nabbed the part of John Wraith, a teleporting mutant also known as Kestrel, in the eagerly anticipated superhero flick. Not bad for a guy with zero acting experience, especially considering he didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with the casting director, he laughed. Bold, sure, but that’s just how much of a fan he is of “X-Men.”
“You don’t understand, check this out, this is how much of a fan I am. I went to the casting right, and they asked me if I knew about X-Men. I was like, ‘Pssh, I know X-Men.’ They were like, ‘Yeah, you know, you’re gonna play a teleporter.’ And I was like, ‘You mean like Night Crawler?’ ‘Night Crawler wasn’t a teleporter.’ ‘Yes he was a teleporter! The dude was a teleporter!” he recalled, giggling. “He would be on the walls, and he was in the Presidential office disappearing and people couldn’t really hit him. He was like, disappearing, poof poof. I was like, ‘Yo, I’m telling you, homey.’ I’m a fan of X-Men.”
But as much as he’s excited about entering a comic book world, he’s even more excited to be doing it as a black man, he said.
“I love black films, I love ‘em, but I want to see other black films other than, like, barbeques, barber shops, and Fridays. The fact that I’m in this film, that’s super dope because you could’ve had me in a film, like, on a corner,” he insisted. “I’m in a rap group. Cast him and have him play this thug, which is all great. But I’m saying as black people we need to do some other stuff. So I’m super, super, super, super blessed and proud to be a part of ‘Wolverine.’”
As a member of Wolverine’s “top secret” CIA black ops “Team X,” will.I.am knows he has to hold his own alongside buff guys like Hugh Jackman. To that end, he left for Australia last night to “get in shape at boot camp” he said.
In the meantime? Just call him “Thrill.I.Am!” the actor sang.
Well, root-a-toot-toot!
What do you think of will.i.am’s casting in “Wolverine”? Are you more or less excited for the project now that we know a large portion will center on Team X? Sound off below.




February 26th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
What.an.I.di.ot.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I’m not so sure about this guy.
March 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
he’s awesome
i love x-men and i’m the president of black eyed peas fansclub in CHILE an we cant be more proud abou t him
he is so right, the black people need to do other kinds of roles, like halle in storm’s role or catwoman,and it could be great if fergie play another character than poseidon and grindhouse, she dies in both movies for god sake!
she need to be a bond gilr or a mutant too!
and will, here in chile we´re all proud of you man!
luv ya!
greeteings to all the black eyed peas and wolverine cast, we hope to see x4!!!!!
___”E”___
Esteban Toro
(Black Eyed Peas Chile Preident)
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:49 am
I think he’s a good fit, if you actually look at a comic drawing of Kestral, you’ll find he looks loads like him.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:37 am
He’s SUCH an X-Men fan, he call himself “John WRATH”, instead of “Wraith” - he’ll @*@# it up. This has shades of X3 all over it..
April 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
OMG!I love this guy…he’s fantastic! I’m so happy 4 this! Will you are THE BEST! So…I hate you if you hate BEP…
Will, Fergie, Taboo and Apl THE BEST FOREVER!
Love and Peace
Bye!
April 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
this is so cool cuz i love will and im the BEP fanclub manager in Egypt and by the way Taboo is also playing the role of Vega in street fighters new movie
peace out
April 26th, 2008 at 2:23 am
It is dope!!I like his singing,his dancing,his style and of course i would like to see him in this film.Till this moment X-men was boring fil.But now when Will.i.am join this stuff this will be “number one” film.Keep goin Will!!You are the best!!!Pease.
RRR