The compelling, crack epidemic dramaSnowfallis in its home stretch as the sixth and final season’s premiere is just around the corner. Since 2017, audiences have seen the ups-and-downs of the LA-based crack cocaine empire that was spearheaded by the young, precocious kingpin Franklin Saint. However,Snowfall’sgripping tale would be nothing without the influence ofJohn Singleton, who co-created the series. AsSnowfallsteamrolls towards its nail-bitingendgame, the cast reflected upon Singleton’s legacy and enduring presence on the show atSnowfall’sprivate screening premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Wednesday.
The distinguished writer-director was a significantpresence in Hollywood and a staple within Black cinema before his death in 2019. Singleton’s feature debutBoyz n the Hoodearned him a place in history after he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director at 24 — making him the first Black person and youngest individual to be nominated in that category. It wasn’t long before Singleton cemented himself as an inimitable force in Hollywood with his subsequent work, all of which candidly illustrates the African American experience in urban environments.
Singleton’s breakthrough achievement at the 1992 Academy Awards paved the way for the recognition of Black directors in the awards circuit and furthered Black (and urban) representation in Hollywood. Even in his death, Singleton’s presence remains an encouraging force for Black individuals. “John taught me to use my voice in ways that I had not given myself permission to use my voice in my career, in my life,” Michael Hyatt (Cissy Saint) toldVarietyduring the premiere’s black carpet. “Because of his presence in my life and the time that I had to spend with him, he empowered me to use that voice. And even though he’s dead, when I come to work, I make sure that what I’m saying represents him.”
Carter Hudson, who portrays the deceitful CIA operative Teddy McDonald, expressed reverence forSnowfall’sgroundbreaking tale which Singleton envisioned as a precursory story toBoyz n the Hood. “He used to always say that you wanted this show to end on the day that ‘Boyz n the Hood’ started and that he always kind of saw this in his mind as a prequel to that. It feels like you were a part of a bigger story that he was working on telling.”
From its inception, Singleton’s andSnowfall’seternal cinematic footprints were intertwined. And according to Hudson, the joint legacy is about giving the catalytic Los Angeles neighborhood context within history and geopolitics. “The world that he was trying to talk about was a world that, when he started, hadn’t been shown. [Singleton] pioneered that, and this is about saying, ‘How did that world come to be?’ It really works to answer these bigger questions about how the whole globe played a part in what happened in one neighborhood and the lives that were being lived there.”
Upon further reflection of Singleton’s reigning impact, Hudson added, “We talked about him. He’s present. He didn’t leave us.”
Related:Snowfall’s Final Season to Offer a Surprising and Emotional Conclusion, Says Executive Producer
Snowfall’s Final Season Pays Tribute to Singleton in Multiple Ways
Although three more seasons were brought to life following John Singleton’s passing, he was always in mind asSnowfallproceeded under fellow co-creators Dave Andron and Eric Amadio. As Franklin’s story and eventual endgame were concocted, Singleton’s direction and dream for the show provided the blueprint to abide by for the award-winning seminal sensation moving forward. During Wednesday’s premiere, Michael Hyatt offered insight into the ways Singleton has been honored inSnowfall’slast season.
Besides continuing the series in Singleton’s vision, the actress gave further detail on how the cast specifically “kept him alive” within their hearts. Dubbed an “act of conjuring,” his director’s chair would be in the room duringSnowfall’sfilming process. Additionally, Hyatt revealed that the series finale will honor the memory of Singleton and is dedicated to the late filmmaker. As if following in the footsteps ofSnowfall’steam, FX President John Landgraf announced that a room at their network office would be named after Singleton during Wednesday’s premiere.
Snowfallreturns with a two-episode premiere on Feb. 22 at 10 p.m. ET on FX. The remaining eight episodes will premiere at the same time on Wednesdays with availability on Hulu the next day
