Daniel Kaluuya to be honoured with a statue on "London's walk of fame"

DANIEL Kaluuya will be honoured with a new statue in London's Leicester Square celebrating his iconic performance in the 2017 film, Get Out.

The London-born actor and filmmaker, 35, garnered widespread acclaim for his starring role in Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, which is noted for its sharp satirical commentary on racism in America. His performance earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 2017 Oscars. Taking to his Instagram to share the news, Kaluuya reflected on the full circle moment, noting that the statue would be in the "same place I used to eat my meal deal prawn cocktail crisps in between auditions".

In a recent poll of 5,000 British film fans, Kaluuya was chosen as the actor most deserving of a new statue in Leicester Square, securing 20 per cent of the vote. He will now join the ranks of famous film characters like Harry Potter, Batman, Wonder Woman, Mary Poppins, and Gene Kelly, as part of the popular “Scenes in the Square” trail.

"I'll be real, this is beyond imagining [the character] Chris in Get Out will be memorialised on the trail alongside characters like Batman, Harry Potter and Mary Poppins," Kaluuya added in his Instagram post. "And, the most special thing about all of this is that it's been chosen by the people."

"I want to say thank you all for taking the time to vote for me. I really tell stories for you guys. I really make things with you in mind, so to have this by you means a lot to me. What an honour. See you on the square," he said.

Other recent additions to the trail include the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, Indiana Jones, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Kaluuya’s statue, set to be unveiled this October, will capture one of the most memorable moments from Get Out—the haunting “Sunken Place” scene, where his character is plunged into a state of psychological paralysis.

According to Variety, this artwork aims to represent both modern cinematic achievement and homegrown talent. Sally Regis, the director of 3D Eye, one of the companies responsible for creating the statue, emphasised the significance of capturing the true essence of the characters. Reflecting on previous collaborations, she highlighted the importance of authenticity: “We worked closely with Gene Kelly’s wife, Patricia, to achieve a perfect likeness and learned many fascinating stories along the way.”

Describing the trail as “London’s own walk of fame,” Regis noted the excitement the statues have generated in the area. “Leicester Square has been transformed with regular crowds gathering to take selfies with the sculptures,” she said. “And with the Heart of London Business Alliance’s commitment to adding more statues in collaboration with film studios and entertainment IP owners, the sculpture park will continue to grow, offering an ever-evolving experience for visitors and locals alike.”"