We Spoke To ‘Captive State’ Star Ashton Sanders, One Of The Most Electric Actors Working Today

Ashton Sanders is, if not one of, maybe the most electric and captivating young actors working today. You probably first noticed him in Moonlight, playing the teenage version of Chiron, always being bullied at school until one day he retaliates in a scene that I still think about all the time. He then starred opposite Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2, a role that came about after Sanders met Denzel at the SAG awards and told him, “I want to work with you,” to which Denzel replied, “See you on set.”

It’s kind of weird when Sanders talks about the roles he doesn’t take, simply saying he doesn’t want to do anything that’s not interesting. But here’s an actor who has the ability to make anything interesting. Sanders says he’s looking for challenges, which also explains why he’s playing one of the 20th century’s most important literary characters, Bigger Thomas, in HBO’s upcoming adaptation of Native Son.

This weekend Sanders is in Captive State, a movie that is, frankly, a lot better and more interesting than you probably think it is at first glance. It’s a tough movie to market. Yes, it’s, ostensibly, about aliens who have taken over the world and how humankind has adapted and aligned themselves to our new leadership, but it’s not really about aliens. It’s a movie that explores what “normalcy” can become over time and the people who decide to fight against oppression.

And, look, the fact Ashton Sanders plays the lead in this movie makes it even more interesting. Sanders has a hectic shooting schedule right now, but he found some time early on Friday morning to talk with us.