Brian Tyree Henry / "If Beale Street Could Talk" & "Widows"

Barry Jenkins. If Beal Street could talk, where he delivers one of the finest performances of the year, and it's he's literally in it for ten minutes. And he's a voice in Spiderman into the spider Verse, which is out now as well. Uh, you know, this podcast is landing in that lull between OSCAR voting concluding and the nominations which will be announced next week. And look, if I had like a plea for the universe, it would be that this guy would somehow slide in for his work.

Nfbl Street could talk the longest of long shots, but strange things have happened. We got Michael Shannon that popped in for Revolutionary Road a few years back. I don't think many people saw like Maggie Jillenhall coming for Crazy Heart, for instance, so you never know, uh, but I'm telling you that he blew my mind. It's one of the most electric things I've seen on a big screen this year, and I was so stoked to finally catch up to him.

So here's my conversation with Brian. You can see all the traffic here exactly and see what rights the end of the day, and and it's not it's like I know, I know, I'm trying to figure out l A traffic and I'm like, so it's all the time basically from two o'clock. Ye Hawaii man, it's kind of like all my inspired stuff right now. Chicken us Yeah, there No.

I was filming um Godzilla Versus calling in for a week and a half and so like I was able to like rowing around and like you'd like to see the locals and like chills the chickens because there were five chickens that just run around and I was like, oh, this is great, this is really dope. It was like

it's a chicken next in my car. There was one point I was trying to get in my car and there was like literally like five chickens behind my car and like they were like crowing, and I was terrified to get in my car because it was like, that's a game and I'm not gonna mess with the chicken at all. Like the roosters and stuff to wake you up like five in the morning, they're ready to party. Yeah, Kawaii has them all over the place. I know, I did. I did not know that was gonna happen. But there

was one point on the island and the chickens. There were chickens and straight hats and like they got along. Like. I was like, so the cats aren't gonna like it's like free game West Side Story. Yeah, I was like, Oh, they actually like respect each other. That's funny. We're rolling all right, Okay everyone, I'm here today with Brian Tyree Henry. He's a star of about thirty five movies this year. I mean, we're gonna talk about all he's all over the place. You know him from Atlanta for sure. Uh,

he's in movies. White Boy. Rick Widows of Beal Street can talk Spider Man into the spider Verse, which is blowing up the pot. The almost called it the podcast podcast. I got the podcast on my box office right now. People are loving that movie. That movie is awesome. But anyway, thank you for coming on the show, and of course I really appreciate. It's good to be here. Man. Um. Before I get to some of that stuff, I just want to talk about where you came from. I mean, Fayetteville.

It's my neck of the woods, really believe it or not. Yeah, yeah, I met. My whole family is from the east side of North Carolina, north of Charlotte. Yeah, so you know all about cook and all that good stuff. I'll say. I was like, yeah, I missed those. Um. Yeah, man, that's home born and raised. For the most part, I spent time in Faytteville. I was born in Cape Valley Hospital in uh Fayeville, North Carolina, and then I spent a bit poor part of my life in Washington, d C.

As well. So like all my sisters and my niece and nephews are all there in d C and UH, but Fayetville, North Carolina is definitely home. That's that's the hometown. And then morehouse. So we were probably passing each other on five dude, but were like living next to each other what we find out we were like neighbors and like in the same ap class. Um, yeah, man in Atlanta, Georgia. Man still home to me too, And I love Atlanta so much. So that's what it's so great to be

able to do Atlanta. It's like, oh, like the even the title of the show, I was like, oh, yeah, this is definitely gonna be one of the best times in my life because Atlanta was the best time in my life. Like it's where I basically discovered that this is what I wanted to do. Tell me about that. What was that like discovery? Like for you was it early?

You know what I mean? Like people always ask about I always want to be an actor, and if that was something I want to do, it wasn't you know, Like for me, it seemed like something very unobtainable, you know, like because you know, I grew up in front of the television, Like the television pretty much raised me, you know, Like I was in a house full of adults, so

pretty much was left to my own devices. And that device happened to be the television and the remote control and so um, I didn't see me up there, you know, I didn't really see any any anybody that like was from like a little podunt town, like not that Famil's product.

I don't need you An'll screaming at me and here this um but you know, like a little town, um well in a little city that that represented me, that that you know, had the upbring that I had, or like told the stories that I saw happening in front

of me. So acting wasn't anything I thought I was gonna do, but it was like a mote of survival, you know what I mean, because like here I have all these adults having these adult conversations and having these adult things going on and then them and I just always wanted to be a part of what that was. So the storytelling aspect was always in me. And it

wasn't until I got to Morehouse that um uh. Good friends of mine that I'm still friends with this day, we're like, um, why are you sitting in this class? I think I was like studying for business at the time, and I hated it so bad, like it and it was over like overbooked, you know how like classes are like packed to the masses, So like there was like thirty of us in desks and then thirty of us standing in this classroom and I'm like by this window

reading the bluest Ide. I think at the time it was it was an assignment that I had, and I was just so into this book and like he's up there talking about business law and I'm like not even paying attention. And then my friends like knock on the window and they're like, there's like an audition going on, like you should probably come with us wiping on this for this play. It's cool, let's go to spelling audition. And I literally stood up in class and I was like,

I won't be back. I see you later. I won't be back. I'm done. Uh And and I stayed there, man, and uh, you know, I think that's the best part about acting for me was the community I got to be around my fellow freaks, you know what I mean. Like I think my first class was a technical technical direction and production class. You know. Um this great man named Mr Thomas and he was teaching this class and it was like at nine am. And I was like, I don't do mornings, just like I just like I

don't do more, but this class I could get up for. Man, like every day. I was like, yeah, this is great, Like you know, you're learning about playwright and learn about directing, and learning about all these plays that I didn't even know about, all these black playwrights, all these Latino playwrights, all these playwrights of color period. And it was really dope, Like it was really dope, and so I just stuck with it. And but I tell himself me to graduate.

My mentor of mind suggested that I auditioned for Yale UM and I laughed, like I was like, I was like, I don't think you see my g P A bro, because like if you did, I would not you would not suggest Yale. But you know, I did it, and and I still can't believe I got in because I at that point it was like twenty two and just a knucklehead and not really knowing what I wanted to pursue. Like, you know, I was all good going back home finding out something to do there and being okay with that,

you know, but I didn't. I never had the aspiration of becoming an actor until all these people around me were like, this is what you should do. What was like the learning curve like that? Did you take to it immediately? What did it feel natural? Was it weird for you? It was, you know. First of all, that was I did not know where you was. I didn't

know it was that far north. I was like, oh, Connecticut, Oh bad, that's cool, like um, and I remember they invited me, you know, our acting chair Run Van lou He, he invited me to come to the school and like do a tour, you know. But the tour lasted for like four days and um, which meant I got to see like plays that were at the Yale Rep because we have a repertory theater there and I got to see plays at Yale Rep. But I was just such a It was such a knucklehead, like I didn't know

any of that meant. So, like I remember there was one play. I was starving and I went to like this take out across the street and I got fried chicken wings and like French fries, and I took it into the theater and this is where they're doing like a classical, like I think, I don't even remember. It was like oh my god, and I sat in the back row and I was just eating in the theater like I didn't know any etiquette. I didn't know anything. I stunk up the whole theater with this one oh

my god, it was so stupid. Yeah, I was like, this is what it is, and that that was the thing that I loved about Yelle is that it allowed me to really be me, you know, like I I was able to keep a sense of self when I got there, and that was like one of the one things I told myself. I was like, Okay, you're at this IVY League, You're at this prestigious school, which you know, I'm very naive, Like I like my naive take kind of saved my life sometimes. So like I didn't research,

you know, fellow alumni. I didn't research anything before I went there. I was just like, let me just go check this out. If they really think I belong here, then let me see. Uh. So when I was going there, for the first few months, I didn't know anything about their alum Like, you know, I didn't know that Courtney b. Vans and Angel Bassett went there. You know, I didn't know that Paul Giamati and Meryl Streep party like just the legacy of great actors had come out of that school.

So then I kind of like got really nervous. I was like I was really an impostor syndrome mode, Like are y'all sure that you want me here, like, because I don't really see a person like me here, Like you know, I was like still walking around with the wallet chain, you know what I mean, like run over Chucks and you know, just being like just this guy. And and you know, manche was very very adamant that this is where I belonged, and uh, it was one of the best times. It was the hardest thing I've

ever done. It was like, it definitely was the hardest program I've never been a part of. But it was worth every minute of it because I'm still in contact with that community, like I was always in the theater management office or like stealing snacks from like the designers in their office, and and like, you know, it was just it just it cultivated the community that I'm so grateful and part of because I wouldn't be sitting here without it. Like, honestly, when did you get the confidence?

When did it? Finally? I don't know. There's there's something about man I can't explain it. Like when I do a play or when I'm doing theater, my favorite part is the rehearsal, you know, like so you get like a few weeks it's such a short amount of time, and you're going in this room that has tape on the floor, so that tape is supposed to be stairs, and that tape that tape over here is supposed to be you know, a door, and that's you know what.

You know, You're working with like raggedy tables that have been in props for like years, and you're just discovering stuff and you're just playing like you're literally playing. I was like, oh, that's why they're called plays, okay, And uh, I don't know, man, It's like there's a fearlessness that comes out of it because you're up there together, you

know what I mean. You're sharing this space with somebody else and telling the stories of somebody else, and you get to be somebody else with somebody else at the same time, and it's it's like it's like the one when those lights come up. It's unlike anything in the world because it's like I've never had stage right, like because like when I'm playing somebody else, it's not me. So therefore it's like, well, what do I have to be nervous about because this is not me. I'm playing

somebody else. But it just I don't know it's just fun and it literally it's something that I find to be incredibly fascinating and fun. And even if you're doing a drama, it's still fun to me because it's like, wow, these words have to be said, like this character exists at a point in time and you have to tell

their story like you it's so urgent. Like that's the thing for me with acting, there's an urgency like you have to tell this story immediately or else the lives of someone in this story will be affected if you don't. And it's just I don't know. I just never really had nerves about it. It just seemed like something fun, especially when you didn't think you would become anything, you know, like if I got into acting to get my name in lights, I was that's the dumbest thing ever. Like

there was a passion for it. And I know that sounds kind of corny, but it really was. Like it takes me at least a month and I have to read a novel if not longer, but like if you put a player script in front of me and I see the dialogue and everything, it's my favorite thing. Man. I could read it over and over and over and over and over. Again. So yeah, I don't know, I guess it. I guess it just came from a place

of the need to tell the story. Were speaking of Yale, you know, Weston Duke and Lupete and Yana were you were you guys there at the same time. They were after me, after Yether, after me. Good good buddies of mine. They're they're so great. There's a there's a whole gamut of great actors coming out of Yale. Um. You know, it's so weird because I look at them as my peers. But I was like, damn, I feel old, like, you know, because like we were under the same chair round Van

lou and I was his first class. I was in the first class, so they were in the classes underneath me, and I kind of feel like the old stage even though these are my peers. But yeah, Yelle, it's got some really really really great um and prolific people, you know, to Releving McCraney was there for playwriting, and uh, you know, there's some great directors come. I mean, it's it's it's that place is dope. It's a dope place to go. And also it's the best place to study because you're

in New Haven, Connecticut. There's nothing to do. They're like, you know, like there's nowhere to go. So it's like you're in New Haven and you better master your craft because like you're up here in the snow and like it's like but it's it's a great place. And it's so nice to see us all emerging that way and doing so well. Like it's really it's really good. I think it's a testament to the institution, honestly, and I'm just so glad to be great to be a part of the number. So glad to be a part of

the Number. Man. Very cool. Well let's talk about let's start with Spider Man. This one's out in theaters now as well. It's just really took off at the end of the year. I saw it, you know, December or something, and you know, I was looking forward to it, but I had no idea I was gonna love it as much as Yeah. I mean, this this movie is awesome

and it's doing really well. It's winning all these critics awards, just won the Golden Globe last Yeah, I did, man, So I mean, being a part of this movie, I don't think you've done have you done voice acting before? Am I. Yeah, like I did, uh a brief episode of BoJack horse Man. Yeah, and I think I've done, have I done? But this was like the first emotion picture. This is interesting too because you're playing like it's not like you're playing like a kid, you know, like you're

playing like a real guy. It's like a very emotional part. Anyways, So just tell me about being a part of this project. I mean, man, I think it's it's the dream come true. I've always wanted to be a part of the Marvel universe in any way whatsoever, because you know, like the Marvel Universe kind of saved my life, you know, as a kid, and it said this day, and you know, especially the story of Spider Man, it was like it's really cool, like how you have this kid who's like,

you know, just ordinary kid. It's been by in Spider and all of a sudden could do everything spiders do, and you know, he gets a really cool outfit and he saves the day. And what I like about this story is that the whole theme is that anybody can wear the mask, and that includes who look like me, you know what I'm saying. So, um, Miles Morales, first of all, being you know, a biracial child from Brooklyn.

You know, I'm his father, and then uh Luna Vale's plays his mom, who is Latina, And it's really cool, Like I mean, it's it's something that I it's so weird how you look at something like that. Like in my lifetime, I always just envisioned Spider Man being a white guy. It's Peter Parker, you know, from Queen's Like

that's how it's always been. But to know that Stanley has created this universe where anyone you can look and be anything and be you be from anywhere and still be a superhero is the most amazing thing in the world. So to get the opportunity to play his father, you know, because you also have this kid who's both of his parents are in his life. You know, both of his parents are like service people. You know. His mom's a doctor. I'm a cop, you know what I mean. And it's

like it's a whole different thing. He's he's bilingual, you know what I mean. He goes to a great school and he's he's a great kid. He's a great kid, and all of a sudden, it's responsibility comes, you know what I mean, all of a sudden he becomes the superhero and it's just I don't know, man, And they did something very special, uh with this project, and I'm really incredibly, incredibly grateful to be a part of it.

I didn't realize like how because I'm a huge animated dude. Okay, Like I love I love animation, Like I will watch it all the time, like I still watch The Simpsons to this day, Like I mean, I would never stop watching the Simpsons. You know, South Park, Pops Burgers, all that stuff has been my life's blood. Like I love it because like you don't see the person who's doing the voice, but you gotta really make people believe that

these characters are going through it to go through. And um, I will say that this movie is doing something I think kind of revolutionary because it's the first animated Marvel movie and like everyone is doing like everyone's acting the faces off in this movie. Like it's really and it's like a drama and a comedy an action movie at

the same time. And it's and you know, it sprints far and wide, like you can be three years old, you can be like thirty five or fifty six years old and still enjoy this movie and I like what it's doing about bringing people together and just like really driving home the fact that anyone can wear the mask, like even you like the fact that I'm excited for Halloween because I can't wait to see how many little kids, how many little black and brown kids are gonna run

around being Miles Miless. You know, there's Halloween and it's really really dope. And it was really important for me to play his father um in a way that you understood that this kid has loved you know what I mean. Like there's a scene in the movie. I'm not gonna give it away, but you know, he goes through something really kind of like shocking, and the first person he calls his dad, and I was like, wow, Like, not his friends, not somebody you know, not somebody else. You

know that from the block. You know, he's calling his dad, And I just really wanted to drive home the fact that that that they love each other, Like that's the big thing that I that I really really love about this movie is that this family loves each other and they will do anything to take care of each other. And and it's just great, man. I mean, like everyone

in the movie is fantastic. Shamik is great, Jake is great, like every I mean, like Reherschela is my brother, you know, And it's just so great because you're not in the studio with these people. Um, I had the luxury of doing my scenes with Shamik though, Like we were in the studio together. So like like there's a car scene that's in the movie, and like they literally set up the room to be like a car, so like there's two chairs, yeah, like a rear view mirror, and it

was really cool. And I love that it's the play of that that I like, you know, that like that kind of connection. Man, Like seriously, it was great. So I'm really glad to see that it's doing so well. And I'm really really so honored that we want to go and globe And it had to be a trip to when you finally saw it. I mean you're in rooms doing these vocals performances and then you finally see like this is a trippy, psychedelic, amazingly animated film and

they like they really broke some ground. I feel like it's kind of like I really feel like it's ear in his place in history a little bit. I've never I've literally never seen anything like it. I want to talk about Beal Street now I was. I've seen this movie a couple of times now, I adore it. I was at the Apollo screening. Great screening obviously. Uh. We talked to Barry when I was in New York for that on the show. This movie is is stunning. It's exquisite.

The craft is amazing, and you come into it, You've got ten minutes and you I'm in all of what you do in this movie. Man, I just gotta tell you straight up, I think it. I think it's one of the greatest performances of the year, you know, whatever category, whatever, whatever I mean, It's just like it's a stunning It's it's like it's a moment in the movie that just grabs you and does not let go of you for those ten minutes. And it was all on your shoulders.

And I mean Stefan is doing a lot too, but like it was, it was a huge moment for you. And just what did it feel like knowing or did you know that? Did you know did it feel like it was going to be this huge anchor in the middle of that. I had no idea. I had no idea and I and I'm kind of glad because that's a testament to Barry, you know what I mean, Like, um, the way that he works and the way that he crafts these environments is so it's unlike anything I've ever seen.

And you know, I live in Harlem. I'm like, that's that's my home, and so we're filming like eight blocks from my house. So there was something that the one responsibility that I did feel like I had to have is to make sure that I represented my my neighborhood. Well, you know, because Daniel, you know, is of that ilk. You know that's where that's home. You know, it's where it's from. And um, yeah, and uh. And so when I read this scene, I was like, Okay, that's heavy.

You know, it's like this is heavy, Like it's heavy, but it's still a moment two between two friends, you know what I mean. And and here's another thing, like, you know, whenever I get the opportunity to play these black men that I play, I don't ever wanna pretend like I know everything that they've been through. So like, for example, I've never been to jail. I don't ever

want to know what that's like. I don't ever want to lie on what that experiences either for people who have been through it, you know, like there's no way I'll ever go to somebody who's been locked up, especially a black man, and asked him, you know, how, how was it in there? Not that's not my place, but for real, like the fact that you're even out and that you're in this world and you made it through that, that's enough for me. Like that, that's enough for me.

You served your time. Like there's just something I don't want to I don't want to feel like I'm invading that experience or taking away from what that experience is, because that's heavy. You know, the statistics say that one in three black men are gonna be incarcerated. That's just how it is, Like that's just the way of the world. And and it's here are two men, two black men, sitting in the room when one of them has already

been uh put in jail. So with Daniel just wanted to make sure for all the Daniels out there that they felt like they were being heard man, because it's very rare that there's someone that you feel like you can open up to with that experience. And it's also we we live in a society especially as black men, that we're told that we can't have feelings, that we can't really you know, cry, or that we can't be angry, or that we can't you know, be passionate about a

lot of things. And and I feel like this scene in particular was important for me to showcase the fact that Daniel has all these things inside of him. But the first thing you see of him is joy, you know, like he sees his friend coming down the street. And this era that we're living in that's already telling us we can't have anything, and he's coming from having a job and I'm being released. But he don't have to know that, you know, all he needs to do is

see that. I want to throw my arms around him and hug him because here we are out in the world, free technically, and so to reconnect with him and hear what he's going through, you know, with tissue, you know, like it's like, at the end of the day, I'm still happy that you have that, Like even though I see this department that you're in that is, you know, a little dilapidated, it you have a roof, even though you know it doesn't seem like you have a lot of money, and no one is giving you a chance

to have an apartment. You get to your art, you know what I mean. And so I think that that moment sitting at the table with stuff, uh, was just a moment in time. It's like Barry dropped us in this room. And it's very rare that you don't have like the crew on set, like you know, usually when you're doing a scene, there's something you can see the boom, like you can see you know, the directors sitting there, you can see this. This That's not how Barry did this.

He basically this The set was set up for it to be this apartment and they were on the outside and uh, Barry took away a camera and just let it be one camera. So it's going back and forth between his and we just talked and we just had the scene, and the weight of that moment was so terrifying to me. But I knew that this how can I stop him from going through the same thing, Like honestly, like, how can I stop him from going through the same thing?

Because this is my brother, man, Like, I'm sure that up until that him and we talked about everything, but I was out of your life for two years. I was locked up for two years, and in those two years, the things I've seen, you you, I wouldn't wish that on anybody. And I just wanted to really make sure that every every brother out there who has been through

that hurt it, you know what I mean. Like, I wanted to make sure that they that they knew that one you are welcome here and you are free, you know what I mean, And even when you don't feel free, there is a freedom and brotherhood honestly, and it just felt like a space to be free with um Fani in that in that moment and uh, Barry, just let us have it, you know, just let us have it. And then right after that, Tish cooks the meal and

were rejoice again. And that's what it feels like, I mean, like that's what it feels like for for us sometimes because it's like you have to you're made to feel like you have to hide, you know, what you're going through. Sometimes you feel like nobody cares what you're going through being a black person in this country, and being a black man in this country, and being a black woman

in this country. To sleep, it just feels like no one hears you, you know, sometimes and we have to create safe spaces sometimes, and I feel like in that in that scene, you get to see a safe space being created, no matter how much time is happening between us being a part. It's like we pick up right where we left off. And I kind of call it kind of like a ballot like like ballid scene because

it's kind of musical to me. Um, it's kind of there's like I think you can feel the weight once this Daniel decides to really share with funding what's going on, and yeah, man, I just really wanted to show my respect to the Daniels out there. And as you say, I mean you cover a spectrum in this scene. I mean it's not like one gear. I mean you're shifting all over the place. So ultimately just ramping into what you're gonna talk about. I feel like the whole movie

is in this scene in some sense. To just thematically speak, you can just things like the by the balls comment. I mean, it's all it's all in the scene. The movie is in the scene, and uh yeah, dude, I mean it's it's it's a stunning display. I kind of just want to fawn over here, man. I appreciate it saying I've been talking about all your line I love. I love the little things you do, like just like the interplay with Kiki when she comes in, just like

they like sharing that kind of that's the life. That's the life. That's that's kind of Like the one thing that I love about what I get to do is that, you know, these men are men that I know, you know, Like they're all men that I know and that I've I've lived with and and could one day become you know what I mean. Like that's that's the thing. I mean, Like that's like Alfred is one of my favorite people

on the planet. Like getting to play Alfred is one of my favorite things because like he is literally my best friend. Like I know this guy, Like I went to school with this guy. Uh, I see my father and this guy, And I just don't ever want to um to lose the opportunity to share those moments with people because there's a lot of there's a lot of people who will never encounter Alfred truly, who will try

not to encounter Alfred truly. There are people who already gonna put their things on Daniel, you know what I mean.

Like there are people who and it's so, and I want to always show what you're missing out on, like they're actually pretty dope people, like even Jamal and widows, like honestly, I mean, he may be a psychopath, but at the end of the day, you know what I mean, Like he's something to somebody, and um, I don't know, there's just a there's a These guys are all so unique and so dope, and I hate that in this lifetime some people just won't ever get a chance to

to to know them. So I just want to make it where when you see these people and you hear them, and you hear these characters and hear these men that you're like, I want to get to know them. I want to know what's going on with them, like after it's done, I want to get to to really experience what they experience. And that's kind of what I love about the scene in Bill Street, for being twelve minutes or whatever how short it is, is that I want you to think about him, because there's a lot of

them that don't get thought of. Once you know you, you you see them, and they're never seen again. And I want them to sit with you. I want you to take them home with you. You know, so, so yeah, I always want to I really always want to embody what their experience is because it happens so quickly. Sometimes like Alpha technically should shouldn't be around, you know what I mean, Andy, And please believe he's heard that. Please

believe that offers heard that. People are like, man, you shouldn't even be here right now, like when you people have probably told him he couldn't be anything, you know, And so I just always want to show the I guess humanity of them. You know, it sounds very artsy fartsy, but like that's true because they are human beings and you know you're missing out if you don't get to know them. Also, I told Barry this the beginning of that scene, it's like the greatest screen hug in history.

Like I want to be a part of that hug. It's like the first shot of you, it's just shot shut. So well, yeah, man, I mean, like he's a visionary man, I mean, and to mean, let's not let's not sleep on the score of this movie either, what's going on with the score and the I mean the Miles Davis is in the first half of what he does with the score at the second half and cranks it down.

This is amazing man. That score. It's like it's like, I mean, I find myself playing the soundtrack in my house all the time, and it's just so it's just it it's so visceral, like you can't help but feel

what's going on on that screen. And you know, I'm so glad that I got to act with you know, Regina King, who you know, it's just like she's been like an icon to me for most of my life and and in a masterclass as well, and Coleman Domingo and Kiki and stuff, and I mean, like it's it's like, I'm I haven't had a chance to actually think about how great this year has been because I've been doing the work and now I actually get to sit down and go, holy sh it, like wait, like you just

were in the number with these people, created this this this beautiful, beautiful art with them, and it's like, I don't know, I wouldn't trade it for the world. So to hear you say what you're saying to mean and what you're taking from it means that I'm I'm I'm I must be doing the right thing. So I really appreciate that. Man, let's talk a little bit about Widows. Actually mentioned it there. I mean, you get to go dark and villain us with this one jerking dogs around.

I mean, like he I want my money. It's just as It's as simple as that. And that's the funny thing about Widows is like you know, Jamal really just wanted to run for all them and that's it. Like and he you mess with my money? Um uh. Working with Steve McQueen first of all, was unlike anything in the world because he's he's awesome, Like the see see's all coming out now, Like I'm saying it out loud, I'm like, oh wait, you just work with Barry Jenkins

and Steve McQueen, Like that's that's really dope. But Steve McQueen is really great. He's like he is really a true, true, true,

true artist. And like, getting the chance to be in Chicago to do this movie was an incredible getting a chance to me make a kind of activist movie in my way, not not just for the female empowerment, but also for like, you know, a black kid from Chicago running for Alderman, you know what I mean, Like he's this is where he's from, and uh, I was doing it with Violet Davis, like you know, doing Violet Davis and Elizabeth de Bicky and mAChR Reeves, the Cynthia Revo,

like just these amazingly, amazing, amazing talents that I just never in a million years, um thought that. And Daniel as my brother man, like, I mean Dan Listener man like that, Like that was like the sickest feeling in the world, like that, me and him are playing brothers, studying a cemetery watching this woman like we gotta go get our money like you can't. Oh man, it was like I mean, it was just the greatest, greatest, greatest moment. And I love Jamal too, like I love Jamal very much, man,

like I love Jamal so much. And uh, I don't know, like I think there's something to be said about walking into an apartment and threatening while the day was his life, you know what I mean, Like I kind of want that on my tomb saying remember me as the guy that right in her life. But yeah, it was a great experience, man. I mean, I don't know what I mean.

There's so much I could say. It's just like, um, we'll talk about Steve maybe, I mean Stevens I love him because it's one of the most direct people in this business. He is not like dance around stuff, and I love him for it and I love talking to him. Uh is he is he that way as a director? Is he very just like? Well, you can tell that

he loved of actors, you know what I mean. Like you can tell that he wants to know what we're thinking, why we're thinking, what we're thinking, where we're going with what we're thinking. He's incredibly malleable. Like he he really will let you go where you want to go, but he also has no problem guiding you with not just the tone or are pushing you to do things that you probably didn't even know I wanted. I didn't know

I was gonna be going to dog. I had no clue that this obstacle of having this actual dog was gonna be in there. But you know your husband stow my money and you look just like me. But you live in this penthouse. You would never come to Mineck of the Woods ever. You know, you would never come to West South Chicago, south Side Chicago. There's no way you would do it. And the fact that you just

why don't we know each other? You know what I mean, like, why don't we have this opportunity, right, Like there's a kind of like I don't know. And and then Steve will let you find that. He'll let you play with that, you know. Um, because with with Jamal, I was like, it could be very easy to do the whole villain thing because in my mind he's not a villain. And he didn't he really didn't do anything wrong. I said.

We just watched the Open up a movie of these four it was taken man like right, like like Jack, you know what I mean. So it's like to me, he is doing what is necessary, like I'm trying to make a better place for my community, and you don't care, like you know what I mean, Like you don't care, Like I get that you lost your husband and everything, but you know what you lost as because you stole

my money. So it's like I don't know. And Steve, Steve would literally he would sit with me and let me do that, you know, when I got the part, Like he flew me to Chicago and he sat me involve in a room much like this, like across the table of the table from each other. And I'd say, for the first half the day, he just let us play with it. He just let us read it over and over again and and just really try to feel it, like really try to like show at the layers of

what doesn't need to be there when. And he crafted this kind of relationship because like, at the end of the day, she needs to fear me and understand the thing, and I I also had to get over the fact that I am doing this with by Davis. So regardless of that, all of that has to be broken down. We gotta get to the meet potatoes of what needs

to be done. And that scene happens, you know, like you know, just drops in the movie at that point, And yeah, he just really wanted to make sure that we had that kind of connection because that's also the tricky thing about movies. Sometimes it's like you don't really know the people you're working with, you know, sometimes you don't even know where your location is. You don't even know like and that was the other thing about that scene. I was like, I had no idea when I saw

that when I saw this apartment. What you said that is really me being like, oh, oh this she keeps going like it wraps around that, Like that's like Michigan that you see like, oh and you stole my money back. Great, this is let's let's go. Um. And so it can be a little nerve racking sometimes to do that, you know, because you've got like, you've got these takes that you gotta get. And you know, I hadn't met Viola before I met her own set How to Get Away with Murderer.

I did an appearance on an episode of that, and but it was so crazy because I was playing the lawyer to Frank who was in in uh in court at the time, and she was in court with him at the time as well. But my character doesn't interact with her, so I'm literally sitting at a table next while the like, but not having any exchanges with her at all. And um, you know until they said cut, you know, and you talked. But in the scene, I

didn't get to play with her, you know. And so this time I was like, I really get to play, like this is what this is what I wanted, this is and the fact that stevem in the opportunity to do that is really really great. Oh, let's see, you just want to cover a couple of quick things here you got coming up me. You're in child's play's, oh man, like it's it's a dream come true. Man. Man. The horror, the horror genre is one of my favorite genres of all time, and um, because I honestly believe in the

horror you have to really be able to act. Like how I like, it's really funny. I was watching Child the original Child's Playing over Christmas, and uh Domin singing is such a genius, Like he's such a genius. Like because there's such a commentary horror movies, I feel like, you know, they were a commentary about you know, like drugs and economics and socio economic status and what happens when you know, kids go out and discussed. But this movie simply was like about a mother wanted to get

her child a doll that everybody loved. And you know my eighties baby, and you remember like the good I mean, well, we didn't have good guys about my buddy. And I just remember, you know, we weren't really we didn't have money growing up, so I knew that I was never

gonna get in my buddy. And I just remember that after that movie came out, all the kids in my neighborhood who could afford my buddies all their dolls are in the trash, and I was like, ha, it's like that's so like it's so to be able as I digressed, So to be able to do this movie was the biggest joy that I've ever had. Like I was a kid in a candy shop. Mind you, I'm doing this movie with kids who weren't born when the original came out, so they have no clue like how Chucky affected our youth,

you know what I mean. Um, it's a great script. It's it's really brilliant. It's really smart, um, you know, and and it's a testament to the greatness of dumb and Seining and how he crafted this story and and how like just what happens, you know, to our youth, and like how it can easily be penetrated by something as sinister as this doll that's possessed by this man that it just as you know, And it was fun waiting when Aubrey was great. You know, our partnership was unbelievable. Lars,

our director is amazing. It was. It was a great time and like, I know people are gonna enjoy it. The best part for me is that it comes out the same day. It's Toy Story four doesn't really. I was like, oh, that's great. It's like, let's go on the kids. That's great. And then you're you just mentioned at the top you're back from hawaii're shooting gods over Yeah,

massive movie obviously, yeah gulp. Of course. I was like, of course, like it's um all this stuff, like I'm hearing you say this stuff, and I'm like, it's just crazy that I'm doing that. But like it's great, man, Like I'm working with Molly Bobby Brown, you know, and it's it's it's great. We're having like so many Like it's crazy because like you're you're acting in this movie about the destruction of the world, you know what i mean, like from this tightened you know, from this godlike thing,

and you know, but we're in Hawaii. So I'm like, well, I mean, I don't know, it's it's been pretty great. But it's it's great, man. It was it's really cool to to do that, to do this movie. We're still shooting it actually, and uh, it's it's it's like I said, it's all a dream come true. Trailers cool. I just saw the other day and then the last thing Atlanta, when's the next year. Are you working on it now? I think that we're going to get back to it

later this year. Um, but we definitely got a third season, and I can't wait. I cannot wait. I just saw Hero and Keith not too long ago, and I was just, oh, my god, I miss you guys, and I can't wait. But I'm also excited to see where we're gonna go this season because, like you know, Robin's season was unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life, and um, it was life saving actually, and and the stories of our heroes have just gone in all different kinds of ways.

I'm praying that Teddy Perkins does not returned, um, but I mean yeah, like that, We've got plenty, plenty, plenty of stories to tell this season, so yeah, I'll look out for it. The one time I saw you here a few months back, you were doing some press with some of our TV team. I saw you on the elevator and I was like, oh, ship paper Boy, Like I didn't even think, I know you knew your name, but it just that's what came to mind. So that tells you everything when when your character kind of is

the first thing people see. But I'm happy that I can call you Brian right now. Also, man, I don't want to let you know a Woman in the Window. I'm doing Woman in the Window Joe right, Yeah, yeah, Amy Adams and Garry old Man bro. I don't know what else. I don't know what more you can possibly say, but I hear that book. It's fantastic. It is. It's really dope, man, And it's it's like it's this crazy thriller, like you get to watch Amy Adams like let it all out and go insane and I get to be

a detective again. But it was it's just's NNA that's coming out next year as well. What that is? You keep getting these kind of you know what? I was always like, why my cop? But it's like, what's going on? What the what did people find? But you know what,

I yeah, yeah, spider Man. But I actually appreciate it because it's like I actually get to actually under try to understand what that role is and what that what it means, because you know, my relationship with the cops isn't that great and I don't, like, you know, we're not very but I'm trying to understand what that is. And I think that it's great that these projects have come up, that I get to play these guys in this way and show a different side to Do you

ever think you'd say that? Never in my life, man, Never in my life. But here we are. Go check out all these movies. If Bill Streaking Talk should be wide by, now go check it out. If it's near you, go see Spider Man. If you haven't already, It's fantastic. Widows is out, White Boy Rick is Deep almost video as it's which I partake in. Stiff Good. Don't see all this stuff, man, I love all this stuff you're doing. Bro, thank you one of my favorite actors things, man, thank

you so much. I really appreciate it. Eight