‘American Crime’ New Series Preview: Cast Explains Why New Anthology Series Is About Way More Than Murder [VIDEO]
ABC's newest drama, American Crime, could be a show unlike several others on television according to the show's stars.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, cast members including Felicity Huffman and Regina King, and producer John Ridley all talked about their new anthology series, which reportedly aims to explore the criminal justice system by tackling issues like racial profiling, drug addiction and immigration through storylines that are all connected to one central crime.
King, who has a recurring role as a Muslim woman named Aliyah Shadeed on the series, even said that those watching may find themselves identifying with the characters on the show because of the prejudices they may experience or even feel for themselves in their everyday lives.
"I think we all have some sort of prejudice in us," she said. "When you watch this piece, you go, 'Oh, that sounds a little bit like me.'"
In addition, Huffman (who stars alongside Timothy Hutton as part of a divorced couple who reunite following the murder of their war veteran son) says that she made sure fans would be able to also see the more humane side of her character-something she ensured she tried to embrace as she filmed.
"When you sign up for something like this, you have to find the human side of the character and go for it," she said.
Ridley also spoke up about the show, saying that his goal in creating the show was to make sure that the show would bring some of these underlying societal issues to the forefront of the conversation.
"When we are confronted with these things, do we change or do we stay the same?" he said. "Can we become more than what we are?"
American Crime premieres March 5 at 10 p.m. on ABC.
