LaKeith Stanfield’s budding career is definitely taking off to the next level. He’s now traversing between film and TV. In Selma, he played civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson, rapper Snoop in the box office hit Straight Outta Compton, and he’s now doing one thing this writer is thrilled about. He jumps right into the next character in the FX series “Atlanta,” playing Darius, and totally erasing memories of prior roles.
It may appear an easy task for an actor to be able to pull off transitioning from one character to the next. Often times when the actor plays the role of someone popular or “Iconic” they’re typecast or pigeonholed into that character. The viewers typically have a hard time accepting the new character. I’m excited this was not the case for Stanfield. When you meet “Darius” in the FX series, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
I’m not an Atlanta native, but I do love how “Atlanta” introduces us to places we haven’t seen in other content about the city. It introduces us to Atlanta’s culture and different lifestyles.
The storyline is about two cousins navigating their way in the Atlanta rap scene with hopes of improving the lives of their family and especially their own lives. The series is kind of shot indie film style but made for TV. The situations Community (played by Donald Glover) find himself in are very comical. Sometimes surreal. You’re taken on a journey and witness the perils of growing up in the ‘hood. Atlanta transplants are educating on the history of Atlanta’s music scene and what it’s like to gain notoriety while making your way into the music business.
Glover, also the creator of the series, is known to most as the Grammy-nominated artist “Childish Gambino.” He’s doing an excellent job with the storyline. He enlisted the help of a director who’s able to deliver his vision.
The show premiered on FX on September 6. Please refer to your local listings for airtimes. Check out our video interview with LaKeith Stanfield on how it was to film in Atlanta and what actor impressed and surprised him while filming.
