Stephan James Stars In Amazon Prime Video's Drama Series 'Homecoming' Airing November 2

Stephan James stars in Homecoming

By Darlene Donloe

Stephan James is becoming quite the “it” guy.

In just a few short years he has appeared in some high profile projects both on the big and little screens, receiving positive reviews. His credits include Race, Shots Fired, Selma and the upcoming Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) film If Beale Street Could Talk in theaters in November.

Up next for the handsome Canadian is Homecoming, an Amazon Prime Video 10-episode drama series set to premiere November 2.

Homecoming, based on the popular podcast of the same name, is a psychological thriller directed by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) and starring James and Julia Roberts, Sissy Spacek and Bobby Cannavale. Roberts plays Heidi Bergman, a caseworker at the Homecoming Transitional Support Center, a Geist Group facility whose focus is to help soldiers transition back to civilian life. James plays Walter Cruz, one of the soldiers who is eager to begin the next phase of his life.  Overseeing Heidi and the facility is Colin Belfast (Bobby Cannavale), an ambitious company man whose manic demands point to questionable motives.

(l-r) Julia Roberts and Stephan James

Four years later, Heidi has started a new life, living with her mother (Sissy Spacek) and working as a small-town waitress, when a Department of Defense auditor (Shea Whigham) comes to her with questions about why she left the Homecoming facility. Heidi begins to realize that there’s a whole other story behind the story she’s been telling herself. 

To say this story is dark is an understatement. Esmail’s vision, approach, and directorial choices are fresh and appealing. The camerawork is exceptional and inviting – making the audience feel like they’re in the scene.  Homecoming has its own unique style.

James plays the role with just the right amount of youthful naiveté. 

Stephan James

I recently caught up with the popular thespian to talk about his Homecoming.

DD: Homecoming is dark. What criteria do you use when deciding to take on a role?

SJ: You look at character and sort of explore the depths of the project and who is involved. I look at who is starring and directing. Homecoming checked off all those boxes. It gives you a tone of what you’re getting yourself into. I mean there is this little actress named Julia [Roberts]. Walter was somebody I never got to play before. TV in a limited form is exciting.

DD: What kind of due diligence – or background work did you do to develop Walter, or was most of it on the page?

SJ: Most of it was on the page. He is past the point where he is not suffering from PTSD. He is just recovering and reacclimating, and normalizing things again.

DD: What do you like, not like about Walter?

SJ:  I like the fact that he has this innocence about him. It’s a double-edged sword. That’s his downfall, his innocence. It may have worked against him.  I can’t tell you any more because I don’t want to give it away.

(l-r) Kiki Layne and Stephan James in If Beale Street Could Talk

DD: Do you have to like a character to play him?

SJ:  I think so. I think you do. All of these characters are human. They are in this gray area – not black or white, just like most human beings. Even in the darkest of villains you have to like something about them to play them. You can always find something.

DD: Lots of things to watch on television. Why should we watch this?

SJ:  Why not? It’s Julia, Sam, and Amazon. It’s something you can binge. You can take in this whole piece in five hours. It’s exciting. It’s something you’ve never seen before. It’s visually appealing. Big credit to Sam [Esmail] and Tod Campbell.

DD: You’re doing some good work. You’ve done Race, Shots Fired, Selma and If Beale Street Could Talk.  What did you expect from show business and what did you get?

SJ: I think I have an interesting perspective on the business. I started working in Toronto. We have a different idea of the business. The star system that you have here - we don’t have in Canada. We tend to come from an artist standpoint. I got my feet wet in Toronto and then I got to come to Hollywood and do more work. I’m grateful for the perspective.

Stephan James in Shots Fired 

DD: What do you do to prepare for each role, each day, and each take?

SJ: Every project is different. You want to be prepared. My idea of preparation is doing homework the night before. It’s to be ready to give to other actors and directors. It’s to also be willing to receive. We feed off of each other.

DD: As an actor, how do you like to work? Do you like lots of rehearsals, no rehearsals, etc?

SJ: Some things require more rehearsals. I’m a fan of letting things happen organically and authentically. That’s when you get the best juice.

DD: Why did you want to become an actor?

SJ: I’ve always enjoyed playing people outside of myself. I thought it was comical to impersonate people. I’m telling different stories.

Stephan James as Jesse Owens in Race

DD: What does acting do for you?

SJ: It’s totally fulfilling. The day it’s not fulfilling, I’ll stop doing it.

DD: Do you learn something about yourself each time you finish a project?

SJ: Yes, 100 percent. Every role I take on changes me just a bit. It’s not only the character journey, it’s also about the people you get to work with. You don’t come out of those situations the same way you went in.

Homecoming, directed and executive produced by Sam Esmail, stars Julia Roberts, Stephan James, Sissy Spacek, Bobby Cannavale, Jeremy Allen White, Shea Whigham, Dermot Mulroney, and Alex Karpovsky.

Homecoming is executive produced and co-created by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg.

On the DONLOE SCALE:  D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Homecoming gets an E (excellent).