Stephan James, Canadian star of Race, takes the lead in Jesse Owens biopic

When Canadian actor Stephan James learned he'd landed the starring role in Race, the new Jesse Owens biopic,he couldn't believe it.

"I was speechless. I'm still speechless. You know it's still weird for me to see the trailers and commercials and the posters. I'm still pinching myself," he said.

The 22-year-old from Scarborough, On.was cast as the Olympian, starring alongside Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis(who plays his coach)and Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons. But first he had to do some homework.

"For me it was a learning process from the beginning:just reading the script and researching him and his life and what he had done," James toldCBCNews.

Owens' rise camealmost 60 years before the young actor was even born. The track-and-field starrepresented the U.S. at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, whichAdolph Hitler tried to use as a tool to spread his message of racial superiority.The African-American athlete ultimately took home four gold medals and set world records that would take decades to break.

Becoming Owens

Making Race has"been an opportunity for me to be the best and share that [story] with a new generation," said James, whospent two months training at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta to recreate the unique running style of the American legendandmet with his daughters to learn about the man behind the athlete.

"I was able to get a personal feel for him and who he was as a father, as a man, as a husband and as a humanitarian."

• Race,biopicof Olympic hero Jesse Owens, takes the safe route, saysCBC'sEliGlasner

Despite his young career, James says he's been careful about the roles he chooses.

His credits so far includethe acclaimed civil rights dramaSelma, in which he shared the screen withOprahWinfreyand DavidOyelowo, and the miniseries The Book of Negroes, a top Canadian Screen Awardscontender.

"They are such important stories in the fabric of our history: black history.Not just American history, but world history," he said of his meaningful earlierroles.

"For me, it's always been about choosing great projects. There's no pressure for me to rush into anything. I'm just excited to tell great stories."

As for taking on different kinds ofroles, the actor named a rising star by the Toronto International Film Festival says he's game.

"I've been telling people all week that I want to play Spiderman," he laughed.