President William Ruto has hailed the rise of renowned Kenyan-American actor Edi Gathegi, celebrating his casting as ‘Mister Terrific’ in the upcoming Superman blockbuster as a shining example of the heights that can be reached through Kenya’s drama festivals.
Speaking during the National Drama and Film Festival State Concert held at the Nakuru State Lodge on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, President Ruto spoke warmly and proudly about Gathegi, remarking that the actor’s rise is a clear demonstration of how Kenya’s local theatre and film festivals have the power to launch individuals into the highest echelons of the global creative industry.
“This drama festival has given us so many big people who are setting standards. We also salute Edi Gathegi, the Kenyan star currently lighting up Hollywood with every role he plays,” the president declared, drawing applause.
Ruto, who was treated to a series of electrifying performances from schools that had excelled in the national drama finals held in Nakuru earlier in the week, further confirmed that the highly anticipated Superman film, in which Gathegi stars, is set to premiere in July 2025.
“This July, he will portray Mister Terrific in the upcoming Superman blockbuster,” he revealed.
The Head of State also reminisced about his 2024 visit to Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, where he claimed to have encountered the Kenyan-born actor and held a conversation with him on matters concerning the film industry and the place of Kenyan talent on global stages.
He lavished praise on Gathegi, declaring his journey as emblematic of the vast potential within Kenya’s artistic community and a testament to what is possible when individuals dare to harness and hone their creative gifts.
“Edi, like many other Kenyans I met at the Tyler Perry Studios in the US a year ago, is proof that Kenyan talent knows no borders,” he said.
Tyler Perry Studios Tour
Ruto toured Tyler Perry Studios in May 2024, a visit that sparked considerable media buzz at the time, though it remains unclear whether he met the actor as claimed, as no photos from the visit visibly show the two interacting or appearing together.
Nevertheless, during that tour, the president met with revered American television host Steve Harvey, who expressed delight at the encounter. Photos shared by Ruto showed him and Harvey warmly engaging and enjoying their time together.
However, Ruto was unable to meet Tyler Perry himself, who was away on other commitments. The media mogul later expressed regret at missing the chance to meet the Kenyan leader.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Perry clarified that the missed meeting was due to scheduling conflicts and was not deliberate. He expressed both regret and appreciation for the president’s visit.
“Unfortunately, my schedule was booked, and I’m heartbroken that I couldn’t move things around in time to be there to greet President Ruto of Kenya as he and his family and delegation toured Tyler Perry Studios,” he wrote.
Some of the dignitaries who accompanied the president on the tour included celebrated content creator and SPM Buzz CEO Eddie Butita, alongside First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto and the president’s two daughters.
Seasoned actor
Gathegi, born Edi Mūe Gathegi on March 10, 1979, is a Kenyan-American actor whose career in Hollywood spans both television and film.
He first gained recognition for his role as Dr. Jeffrey Cole—nicknamed “Big Love”—on the acclaimed medical drama House.
Since then, he has delivered compelling performances in films such as ‘Gone Baby Gone’, ‘Twilight’, ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’, and ‘X-Men: First Class’. He also featured in AMC’s ‘Into the Badlands’ as Baron Jacobee and portrayed Matias Solomon, a covert operative, in NBC’s The Blacklist and its spin-off The Blacklist: Redemption.
His versatility continued to shine through in his lead role as Ronald Dacey in the crime thriller series ‘StartUp’ and, more recently, as Dev Ayesa—a visionary entrepreneur and engineer—in the Apple TV+ science fiction drama ‘For All Mankind’.
In July 2023, Gathegi was cast as Mister Terrific in James Gunn’s much-anticipated Superman film, which, according to Ruto, is set for release in July 2025.
The role marks yet another milestone in a career defined by bold choices and brilliant execution.