Exclusive: Cory Hardrict talks All American: Homecoming, HBCU and His Production Company
Premiering tonight at 9pm on The CW is All American: Homecoming, the spinoff series to All American.
ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING is a young adult sports drama set against the backdrop of the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) experience at Bringston University, where Black excellence is a way of life. The series follows Simone (Geffri Maya, “All American”), a young tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills who is trying to fight her way back to great after some time away from the court, and Damon (Peyton Alex Smith), an elite baseball player from Chicago who is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. After Simone’s aunt Amara Patterson (Kelly Jenrette), a journalism teacher and activist, exposes a scandal that threatens to derail the school’s beloved baseball program, new coach Marcus Turner (Cory Hardrict) is determined to bring a championship back to Bringston the honest way — with Damon’s help.
Damon will adjust to his new normal with fellow baseball player and childhood friend JR (Sylvester Powell) by his side. Meanwhile, as Simone struggles to find her footing, she will get a little guidance from Thea (Camille Hyde), the super-competitive queen bee of the Bringston tennis team, and Keisha (Netta Walker), the school’s unofficial mayor, who will help Simone learn how to live her best life. As they contend with the high stakes of college sports, Simone and Damon will also navigate the highs, lows, and sexiness of unsupervised early adulthood at a prestigious HBCU.
ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING stars Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks, Peyton Alex Smith as Damon Sims, Kelly Jenrette as Amara Patterson, Cory Hardrict as Coach Marcus Turner, Sylvester Powell as JR, Camille Hyde as Thea Mays, Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins and Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla.
For Hardrict, who just came off a recurring role on Showtime’s The Chi, he gets to exercise his athletic skills as coach Marcus Turner. Turner played baseball at Bringston University and was drafted into pro ball, only to have an injury sideline his career. Now assistant head baseball coach at Bringston, he is tough, blunt, and committed to raising honorable young men.
Hardrict’s notable TV and film credits include The Game, Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino and American Sniper, Battle: Los Angeles, Lovelace, Destined, Brotherly, and All Eyez On Me.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with Hardrict on his role on All American: Homecoming, HCBU and his upcoming projects through his production company, Hardcor Films.
