Micheal Ward Speaks About Being the Only Black Actor in 'Eddington'

A24’s latest politically charged drama Eddington just made its Cannes debut, and let’s just say, it landed with a bang. The film received a five-minute standing ovation at its premiere last night, and it’s already buzzing as one of the boldest, provocative projects of the year.

Set in May 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, Eddington takes a hard look at America’s deepening divide through the lens of a small-town power struggle.

The plot centers on a standoff between a sheriff, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and the town’s mayor, played by Pedro Pascal. As tensions rise, Eddington, New Mexico, becomes a battleground, not just for political control, but for the soul of a deeply fractured community.

The film doesn’t hold back when it comes to confronting the rise of MAGA culture, conspiracy thinking, and the kind of paranoia that turned neighbors into enemies during the pandemic.

But for rising star Micheal Ward, who plays a pivotal role in the film, the experience on set came with its own layer of complexity, being the only Black actor in the main cast.

Michael Ward on being the only Black actor in the cast of #Eddington: "It's always difficult when you're the only Black person in a cast. But telling these stories is only going to make them better for the people coming after me. That's what it's about."https://t.co/YpdoHm0VMw pic.twitter.com/PM6x01R3L0
— Variety (@Variety) May 17, 2025

Speaking candidly at the Cannes press conference, Ward didn’t shy away from the reality of that dynamic.

“Obviously, it’s going to be difficult… It’s always difficult when you’re the only Black person in the cast,” Ward shared. “But unfortunately, this is what it is.”

Ward, best known for his standout performance in Top Boy, believes that these steps are necessary for further representation in film.

“We’re telling these stories, and being part of these stories is only going to make the opportunities better for the people that are coming after me…That’s what it’s about.”

It’s a reminder that even in prestigious, boundary-pushing cinema, representation still has a long way to go. And while Ward may have been the only Black actor in Eddington’s core cast, he made it clear that his presence mattered, not just for the role, but for what it signals to the next generation of actors of color breaking into the industry.

With a cast including Phoenix and Pascal, and a storyline that feels ripped from the recent past, Eddington is the kind of film that ignites conversation.