Michael Jai White is a renowned actor and martial arts expert best known for his exhilarating performances, dynamic characters, and impressive martial arts choreography — something best seen in martial art flicks such as Blood & Bone, Take Back, and Undisputed 2. However, it was his venture into comedy with the release of 2009’s Black Dynamite that allowed MJW to transcend his traditional roles and show his comedic prowess. And now, building on the success of Black Dynamite, White is introducing the audiences to a whole new character: The Outlaw Johnny Black.
Judging by the trailer for The Outlaw Johnny Black, the upcoming film, which is scheduled to release on September 15, 2023, pretty much continues in the same vein as previously released Black Dynamite, despite the narrative differences. In fact, besides mentioning the Black Dynamite movie in The Outlaw Johnny Black trailer, both trailers are actually narrated by Byron Minns, an American actor who occasionally provided narration in the Black Dynamite animated show.
For those who haven’t watched it, Black Dynamite is an energetic satire of 1970s blaxploitation films, in which White, with his recognizable martial arts skills, portrayed the self-titled hero and brought the film to life with a particular flair of humor and comedy that aren’t typically associated with action films. His portrayal of the eponymous character Black Dynamite, an ex-CIA agent on a path of vengeance, introduced a unique blending of both comedy and martial arts presented in an entertaining and exciting way.
The movie was a massive success among audiences at the time of its release. It was well received by critics, with many praising this loving and meticulous send-up of 1970s blaxploitation movies as funny enough for a frat house movie night and clever enough for film buffs. But its success showcased Michael Jai White’s ability to tackle comedic roles, allowing him to demonstrate his versatility as an actor. It was Black Dynamite’s blending of cinematic genres, the mixture of action, comedy, and satire, that helped set the stage for White’s next adventure as The Outlaw Johnny Black.
As said before, The Outlaw Johnny Black continues along the same path forged by Black Dynamite, taking pretty much the same satirical approach. This time it’s satirizing Western films, allowing White to show his acting range in both action and comedy. But instead of a former CIA kung-fu-loving agent, White now embodies a character who’s a fearsome gunslinger, a well-trained foot-to-the-face combatant, and a hilariously engaging figure. And yet, there’s an undeniable sense of continuity when it comes to White’s character in the new film, despite them being entirely different narratives.
Both Black Dynamite and Johnny Black share the same traits as characters. Both are skilled and formidable men on a path of vengeance, with Dynamite avenging the death of his brother, while Johnny seeks to avenge his father’s death. Both share more than just toughness; both Dynamite and Johnny Black have a side to them that brings laughter to the audiences, regardless of the fact that their respective narratives are at least a century apart.
More importantly, Michael Jai White’s transition from the character of Black Dynamite to Johnny Black speaks volumes about his acting abilities. Not because of character portrayal — Black Dynamite and Johnny Black are basically the same character, just placed across different centuries. It’s White’s signature integration of martial arts into a mixture of action, comedy, and satire that really shows the depth of his creative genius and the breadth and depth of his comedy skills.
The massive success of Black Dynamite provided Michael Jai White with a foundation upon which he could build the main character of The Outlaw Johnny Black, so we can say with some degree of certainty that the former has paved the way for the latter. 2009’s Black Dynamite and its subsequent tie-ins proved that action and comedy could merge into an entertaining film experience, setting a precedent upon which MJW could expand in The Outlaw Johnny Black.
In the end, the legacy of Black Dynamite is evident in The Outlaw Johnny Black, and anyone who has seen the former will recognize its “kick-butt and laugh your heart out” humor right away. The vibrant character, the instantly recognizable humor, and the over-the-top action and fight sequences all stem from the success of Black Dynamite. The tonal similarities between the two prove that Michael Jai White can be both an ass-kicker, a gunslinger, and a comedic gut-buster, using the success of one role to catapult him into another.
Still, despite the obvious similarities between the two characters and the two movies, MJW continues to leave a mark on cinema through his unique blend of humor and mastery of different genres. Indeed, Black Dynamite may have walked, but thanks to the strides of its star, Michael Jai White, The Outlaw Johnny Black now rides.