Premiering Friday, January 10 at 8 PM. on NBC is Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector, the drama series is inspired by Jeffery Deaver’s bestselling book series. It had been previously adapted into the 1999 movie of the same name starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.
Russell Hornsby stars as Lincoln Rhyme, the role played by Washington in the film, who’s a detective consumed with capturing a notorious serial killer known as the Bone Collector.
Written by VJ Boyd and Mark Bianculli and directed by Seth Gordon, Lincoln follows legendary forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme (Hornsby), who was seriously injured during his hunt for the diabolic serial killer known as the Bone Collector. Called back into action when the killer re-emerges, Rhyme forms a unique partnership with Amelia Sachs (Midnight, Texas alum Arielle Kebbel), a young beat cop who helps him hunt the deadly mastermind while also taking on the most high-profile cases in the NYPD. Lincoln Rhyme is a New York City police detective and maverick obsessed with taking down the serial killer known as the Bone Collector.
The series also stars Brían F. O’Byrne (‘Hatton Garden’, ‘The Magicians’), Tate Ellington (‘Quantico’, ‘Shameless’), Courtney Grosbeck (‘Homeland’), Ramses Jimenez (‘Fear the Walking Dead’), Brooke Lyons (‘The Affair’), Roslyn Ruff (‘Madam Secretary’) and Michael Imperioli (‘The Sopranos’).
Boyd and Bianculli executive produce Lincoln with Keshet’s Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan. Sony Pictures TV and Universal TV produce in association with Keshet Studios.
During New York Comic Con last Fall, Blackfilm.com spoke with Hornsby about taking on this role and whether he spoke with Denzel Washington about it.
What led you to say yes to the script?
Russell Hornsby: The challenge of being playing a C5/C6 quadriplegic. The material, the script itself was very well written, very engaging. I wanted to step into that. As an actor who comes from the theater, I want a new challenge. I don’t want to do by the book, A-B-C, or 1-2-3. I want to say, “I’m a little nervous taking on this role. I’m nervous to take it on this character,” and that this has given me the opportunity.
It’s interesting. In the books, the character was a Caucasian, and the movie was a black man. You’re playing a character more familiar to the Denzel role. Was that something you guys talked about with the producers?
Russell Hornsby: No. I think the movie had a lot to do with how they were going to cast it. And be truthful Wilson, I think I’m interesting to watch. As I said before, I’m a brother who was born and raised in Oakland, California, on the rhythm section. I love hip hop, I love r&b music, I love all kinds of stuff and I bring those things to my roles. So how can you differentiate differentiate yourself from everybody else? Now you got Russell Hornsby stepping into this and Russell Hornsby brings a flair for the dramatic like nobody’s business. I think audiences will walk away saying, “I like the way Russell rolls. I like the way he plays his characters because it’s interesting and it’s dynamic. It’s not just by the book, it’s not just vanilla or just chocolate. We’re going to put some other things in there. We’regoing to add in some butter pecan. We’re going to add some custom cream and we going to put some rocky road up in that motherfucker.
You worked with Denzel on stage and on film, so did you talk to him about this?
Russell Hornsby: I haven’t spoken to D. I ran into his wife Pauletta back in NY last May.She was very happy for me. She told me that she and Denzel are rooting for me and that’s all I need. I appreciate that. I respect that. This is totally different. I know the movie exists but I’m not I’m approaching it. I’m not approaching it if as I’m stepping in a role Denzel did. I’m pushing this as a role Russell Hornsby is taking on. I’m not even thinking about what D did with all respect to him and in the work, but it’s 20 years later. I’m a different brother, it’s a different thing. It’s not a remake of the movie. It’s a reimagining of the books.
Are you comfortable being on the bed for so many hours?
Russell Hornsby: Yes, I am. I think we’re bringing up a wheelchair so that we’re going to move from the bed back and forth from wheelchair to bed, which gives him a little more mobility.
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