John Leguizamo is set to shock fans with his new drama series, The Green Veil. The actor is taking on his first lead role in a TV show, and it’s a departure from anything we’ve seen him do before.
Leguizamo is not only starring in the drama, but he is also serving as an executive producer. The series is set in the 1950s and follows a government agent on a mission to uncover dark secrets. Leguizamo describes the show as “dark” and “twisted.”
“This is a historical fiction thriller with elements of science fiction,” Leguizamo explains. “My character is a self-hating individual who becomes involved in this mission. It’s a dark piece, but it’s true and incredibly well done.”
Leguizamo’s character, Gordon Rogers, is an immigrant struggling with his own cultural identity and an unhealthy obsession with the so-called American Dream. This obsession proves to be destructive due to the racial and ethnic limitations of the time.
“I know a lot of people will despise me,” Leguizamo teases about his character. “But that’s the point. I want them to understand the character, to understand why someone could be so self-hating and inflict harm on another group.”
In addition to his acting role, Leguizamo is also an executive producer on the show. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to highlighting diverse Latinx stories, and The Green Veil is no exception.
“I’ve watched a lot of 50s movies and period pieces where we are completely invisible. It’s like, ‘Wait a minute. We’ve been in America since 1492 and before,'” Leguizamo expresses. “It’s great to have Latin representation in the 50s.”
The cast of The Green Veil also includes John Ortiz, Hani Furstenberg, and Irene Bedard, known as the voice of Pocahontas in the 1995 film.
The highly anticipated series will premiere on April 30 on The Network, a new ad-supported streaming service that launches on the same day. The Network’s founder, Rappaport, wrote and directed the series.
Before you go, click here to see celebrity women of color share the first movie or TV character who made them feel seen.
