Charles Babalola Navigates Power and Legacy in Fightland
A LAMDA-trained actor from Canning Town, East London, Charles Babalola first drew widespread attention in The Legend of Tarzan, sharing the screen with names like Margot Robbie, Alexander Skarsgård, and Samuel L. Jackson. Since then, he has moved confidently between film, television, theatre, and voice work, building a body of credits that includes Mary Magdalene, Gretel & Hansel, Black Mirror, Broadchurch, Silent Witness, The Outlaws, and Eli Roth’s sci-fi epic Borderlands. But if that wasn’t enough to showcase his skills, he even went on to make his stage debut opposite Bryan Cranston in the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of Network, further highlighting the versatility that has made him one of the UK’s most exciting rising talents.
Now, Babalola takes on one of his most charged roles yet in Fightland, the new British boxing drama produced by 50 Cent for Starz. Set against the collision of sport, money, power, and family loyalty, the series follows the forces circling the boxing world, along with the people determined to profit from it, survive within it, or escape its consequences. Those competing pressures come into particularly sharp focus through Ezekiel “Zeek” Marshall, Babalola’s brash and unpredictable character.
In Fightland, Zeek is the son of Kingsley Marshall, a Jamaican-born, South London-bred criminal kingpin portrayed by Nicholas Pinnock. With Kingsley’s influence extending through boxing and gambling, Zeek has essentially grown up surrounded by status, danger, and the pressure of a name that already carries weight. And, choosing promotion over fighting himself, he also moves through that world with a confidence that can feel magnetic, though there’s enough underneath to suggest there’s still someone fighting to establish where he stands within it.
Fightland drops viewers into the world of British boxing, crime, money, and family power. What was your first reaction when you read the scripts and met Ezekiel “Zeek” Marshall on the page?
Charles Babalola: Chaos! Zeek felt extremely chaotic when I read the scripts. Even from the first audition scenes, I got a strong sense of this. He’s a man trying to make his mark in this world whilst leaving a trail behind him. And no f—s given about it! The more I read, the more I understood that there were multiple layers to Zeek that you might not immediately notice.
Where do you think Zeek fits in this world?
Charles Babalola: Our world is set in modern-day London, so I wanted to portray Zeek in today’s world as truthfully as possible. Zeek is a lead promoter for very lucrative boxing fights, friends with A-listers, tapped in with big streamers in the streaming world, etc. He’s slap bang in the middle of pop and media culture. He understands the power that brings him in the world today.
Is he someone chasing power, protecting what he already has, or trying to prove something?
Charles Babalola: Zeek is a Marshall, and the Marshall name comes with power. Being Kingsley Marshall’s son gives him the key to some power plays that most people can only dream of. However, he’s trying to forge his own path. Write his own story. Obtain his own power. Lead his own army. And he doesn’t care who he steps on to achieve this.
Zeek is initially described as brash and unpredictable, which is always interesting because those traits usually come from somewhere. What did you want to understand about him beneath that surface?
Charles Babalola: When a character presents themselves in the way that Zeek does, you have to delve deep into what makes them like this. I understood that he’s dealing with a lot of unresolved trauma from his past. His father has never made him feel he is good enough to be his son, so Zeek wants his approval and love more than anything. Therefore, he’ll do whatever it takes to prove his worth.
How did you approach that father-son dynamic?
Charles Babalola: I had a fun time working with [Nicholas Pinnock]. I’m always watching and listening to actors who have his level of experience in the business. I had a long chat with him before we started filming, and it was a continuous dialogue until the end of the production. It was dope to dissect what a modern-day father-son dynamic is. Also, a specifically Jamaican father-son dynamic. Things like: How we showed love and respect to each other and the lack of vulnerability. The expectation to carry on the dynasty. Kingsley represents the old school, and Zeek most definitely represents the new school. Watching the narrative play out brings a lot of tension.
Did the role require any kind of boxing, movement, or specific preparation?
Charles Babalola: Not for me, unfortunately. A lot of people asked me this, and the answer is no. I would have loved to have boxing scenes in the show as I’m mad into my boxing and fitness outside of work. I play a promoter in Fightland, so I got to do the next best thing and watch all boxing fights from the front row of ringside, which was actually sick. The action scenes are so good in this series, and I genuinely loved watching all the various fight sequences on set. The stunt team on the show and the actors did an incredible job with it all.
You’ve worked across major films, acclaimed TV, theater, voice work, and genre projects. What did Fightland give you as an actor that felt different from what you’ve done before?
Charles Babalola: Fightland gave me an opportunity to be a Black man with status. A Black man in the upper echelons of society. A Black man who is his own boss—apart from when my paps Kingsley wants to throw his weight around. You get my drift! I haven’t had many chances to play a character who’s sitting on that side of the table. It’s rare that those characters come around for my casting bracket.
For audiences coming in for the boxing, crime, and adrenaline, what do you think will surprise them most about Fightland once they get deeper into the characters?
Charles Babalola: Well, first and foremost… It’s action-packed from the first round. I think audiences will be really pleased with the amount of surprising moments you’re getting in every episode. It also has a great ensemble cast of characters. Every character is linked and fighting for what they believe is their right!
