John Boyega walked into his first photo shoot for the Pirelli calendar with an open mind.
In the 51st edition of the iconic fashion project, the Star Wars the actor, 32, poses in his underwear, with exposed muscles soaked in ink, in a studio setting for his black-and-white portrait and in Miami’s historic Virginia Key Beach Park for his sexy outdoor shoot.
What did he do to prepare for his debut?
“Nothing,” he tells PEOPLE.
“I wanted to do it that way. I was actually at the beginning of my weight loss journey. My body has changed quite a bit, even after the shoot, but I wanted there to be a shoot that would capture where I am and the imperfections of that,” he explains of his decision.
He also wanted to be as authentic as possible in the pictures taken, some of which showed him constantly splashed with water as he modeled topless in the ocean. “The team was very supportive, completely creative. It was something I would definitely do again.”
Pirelli Calendar 2025 Ethan James Green.
Ethan James Green
Padma Lakshmi Says She’s ‘Completely In Command’ of Her Body as She Debuts in Daring Pirelli Calendar (Exclusive)
Pirelli’s 2025 calendar, titled “Refresh and Discover,” stars Boyega alongside Padma Lakshmi, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hunter Schafer, Vincent Cassel, Jung Ho-yeon and Simone Ashley. Photographed by Ethan James Green, the latest installment explores beauty and nudity, a popular theme in past series (“The Cal” has a history dating back to 1964).
“Taking sexy pictures was something that immediately felt right. When I think of Pirelli, I think of sexy, sensual images… it seemed very obvious,” Green, who not only participated behind the cameras but also modeled for the spread, tells PEOPLE.
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He and stylist Tonne Goodman were “on the same page” when it came to exploring the concept of skin-forward.
“It has nothing to do with nudity, in fact, it has to do with beauty and people being able to express themselves however they want, with or without clothes,” Goodman explains to PEOPLE. “Pirelli has always had a reputation for being this sexy, a little outrageous. This is outrageous in the best way because it’s so true.”
Check out BTS’ star-studded 2024 Pirelli calendar featuring Naomi Campbell, Angela Bassett, Idris Elba and more!
That’s what intrigued Boyega the most. “They said, ‘Well, this is really about celebrating beauty and celebrating beauty in different ways.’ ”
As a male actor, he hopes his photos can redefine what it looks like to fill that role. “There is an image attached to what a leading man is, and I have always disagreed with the images that come out,” he says. “I’ve always wanted there to be an expansion, and this kind of represents that message and represents my views that beauty can be found in different ways.”
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Source: HIS Education