How DEFIANT Tells the True Story of Robert Smalls (Exclusive)

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The team behind the graphic novel *Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls* discussed their work and upcoming movie plans at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. Written by Rob Edwards and released this summer, *Defiant* recounts the incredible true story of Robert Smalls, who bravely escaped slavery by taking control of a Confederate ship and eventually became a captain in the Union Navy.

David Thompson from TopMob interviewed Paul Scanlan, the CEO of Legion M, producer Marvin Jones, and Edwards, a writer for the upcoming *Captain America: Brave New World* movie, to discuss the progress of adapting the graphic novel *Defiant* into a live-action film.

Jones is a talented producer and actor. He voiced the character Tombstone in *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* and was originally set to star in the film *El Muerto*, which was later cancelled.

The team not only shared their plans but also stressed that telling Robert Smalls’ story should be genuine, inspiring, and meaningful.

Edwards thoroughly researched the story to ensure its accuracy, becoming deeply involved in the details. Meanwhile, Jones felt a personal connection to Smalls’ life and work, inspired by the principles of patience, persistence, and perseverance.

Scanlan emphasized their work to distribute the book to schools and libraries nationwide, and Edwards noted that the story of an enslaved person has the power to inspire everyone.

Keeping Robert Smalls’ Story Authentic

“I Geeked Out And I Had A Stack Of Research…”

  • TopMob: “How did you approach researching Robert Smalls’ life for Defiant?”

Luckily, I was connected with Dr. Myisha Eatmon from Harvard, a professor of African American Studies, and she provided valuable context and guidance.

Michael Moore, a descendant of Robert Smalls, then added personal stories to bring the history to life.

I became completely immersed in the research, gathering a huge amount of information – more than I could actually use in the graphic novel. But that’s always the first step: diving deep, and then focusing on telling a relatable, human story.

This story, to me, is about a man determined to improve things for his family. He discovered his wife’s owner was facing financial ruin and likely would be forced to sell their son, meaning the man might never see them again. That realization was a pivotal moment for him, and I think it’s a universally relatable part of the story.

Bringing Robert Smalls to the Big Screen

“Patience, Persistence, and Perseverance. …”

  • TopMob: “What do you think your best or greatest addition to the film development process so far has been?”

When I think of Robert Smalls, three words immediately stand out to me: patience, persistence, and perseverance.

I instantly understood and connected with that idea, because it really gets to the heart of everything I believe in. It’s basically my guiding principle and what drives me.

Everything I do – as an artist, actor, father, and as a person – is guided by patience, persistence, and perseverance. I also bring all my experience, knowledge, connections, and resources – both in terms of the business side of things and creatively – to every project.

Defiant Being Taught in Classrooms

“Get This Book Out Into Schools And Libraries Across The Country…”

  • TopMob: “Why is it important to share Robert Smalls’ story with a wider audience, especially in schools and libraries?”

We’re creating a teacher’s guide to accompany the book, and we’re currently in talks about it. We’ve already received orders for hundreds of copies from school districts. We also ran a special promotion where teachers could request a free copy, because we’re committed to getting this book into schools and libraries nationwide.

“Everybody Can Be Inspired By This Story Of A Slave…”

Rob Edwards believes this is an important story that deserves to be shared, primarily because it’s truly inspiring.

I shared a graphic novel with my 70-year-old British friend, and he was surprised by how much it moved him. He actually asked if he *should* be feeling inspired, and I told him absolutely – anyone can connect with and be inspired by this story about slavery.

This is a powerful story about a person who was enslaved and went on to achieve remarkable things. It’s a compelling narrative regardless of the specific details or characters, and I’m excited to help share it with others.

The full video interviews can be viewed here:

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2025-09-19 22:29