Andre Benjamin has been cast in the second season of ABC’s anthology series “American Crime.”
The move reunites Benjamin with the show’s creator and executive producer John Ridley. The two worked together on the 2014 film “All Is by My Side,” which Ridley wrote and directed and in which Benjamin starred as a young Jimi Hendrix.
Benjamin will star opposite Regina King as Michael Lacroix, an architect who is married to King’s character, Terri. The two form a wealthy power couple who have the means to defend their son when he becomes embroiled in a scandal at an elite private school.
“Personally, I couldn’t be more excited than to work again with Andre,” Ridley said. “He is an amazing individual, a true artist, and ‘All Is by My Side’ is one of the reasons I was given the reins on ‘American Crime.’ Folks at ABC were absolutely moved by Andre’s performance in the film, and by the overall language of cinema we used in telling the story. It’s fair to say ‘American Crime’ might not exist were it not for our previous collaboration.”
The first season of “American Crime” drew 10 Primetime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series and a nod for King for outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie.
Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton were nominated for best actress and actor, respectively, in a miniseries or movie, while Richard Cabral was nominated for supporting actor. Ridley was nominated for best writing in a miniseries or movie.
As a recording artist, Benjamin performs under the name André 3000, half of the hip-hop duo Outkast.