Ramón Rodríguez on ‘Will Trent’ and the Restigning of Latino view

Ramón Rodríguez has finished playing games.

He never intended to lead a network procedure, let alone become a creative force behind one, but as a star and executive producer of ABC’s ‘Will Trent’, the actor born in New York is again defined what it means to be a latino-leading man in Hollywood on his own conditions.

“There are just not many Latino -leading men,” he says. “I would love it that that is an abundance – whatever that looks like.”

Rodríguez plays special agent Will Trent, a dyslexic, dog -loving orphaned crimes for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Based on the novels of Karin Slaughter, the character was originally written as white and blond. Rodríguez brought a new identity into the role and made it his.

“I think it’s great that I didn’t just get a Latino role,” he says. “It was a colorless role that I could step into, and then we investigated his identity.”

The creative team of the show supported his vision, even when some old fans pushed back from the source material. But Rodríguez was willing to challenge expectations – and to help reform the procedural format.

“What is cool is that you build trust,” he says. “I don’t look at it to make myself look good. I say:” How do we make this show better? “”

That cooperation has paid off. “Will Trent” has grown in viewers every season since the 2023 debut. The third season, which just ended, introduced many praised storylines, including an arc with two episodes that revealed the alienated father of Will, played by Yul Vazquez, defended a casting decision Rodríguez.

With the success of the show, the positioned Rodríguez is like a Dark Horse community service for his first protagonist in a drama Emmy nomination, a category that only two Latinos ever nominated. Although he sees the deep source of talent outside, Hollywood does not make it and says: “I still have the feeling that we only get the tip of the iceberg.”

The breakthrough of Rodríguez did not come from one day to the next. His path to acting was unconventional, starting with Nike commercials in the early 2000s thanks to his basketball skills. But after discovering an acting studio in New York, he was committed to the profession and underwent years of playing stereotypical roles.

“I used to have long cornrows to my chest,” he recalls. “That is who I grew up in the Lower East Side. But I realized that the roles I received was always a kind of negative stereotype.”

Now, as an executive producer, Rodríguez helps to shape casting decisions and scripts. He also uses his platform to open doors for other Latino creatives. An episode from the last season was written by Puerto Rican writer Rebecca Murga, a rental Rodríguez who was proud. The process brought him back to looking at “I love Lucy” as a child.

“When I grew up Desilu Productions, I thought:” That’s cool. Desi Arnaz did not act alone; He helped make the thing, “he says.” That left a stamp on me. “

And he already looks beyond ‘Will Trent’. He appeared in the political action thriller of Prime Video ‘G20’, where he bows his action carbonades and reminds of the audience that he can handle more than just network drama.

“I received weapon training, martial arts. That gave me the itch again,” he says, referring to balancing TV and filming. “I want juicy, fleshy parts, whether they are dramatic or driven action.”

Yet he is dedicated to see “Will Trent” through, as long as telling stories remains inspired. “If we no longer feel inspired, we shouldn’t do it,” he explains. “Fortunately, so far, everyone feels really creative inspired.”

That creative fire, in combination with cultural pride and a focus on inheritance, has made Rodríguez one of the most fascinating multi -hyphenes of television.

“I try to participate – to take the baton, run as far as possible and indicate it to the next one.”

Variety Awards Circuit: Emmy