Lucky to tell cool stories with really cool people: Homecoming' star Stephan James

Hollywood star Stephan James calls himself a fan of great stories and as someone who has played lead roles in Barry Jenkins' film If Beale Street Could Talk and Amazon series Homecoming, the young actor says he wants to continue to be a part of art that reflects life in society.

James, 26, is coming back for his second innings on "Homecoming", which introduced his talent to global audiences.

"I don't claim to be a politician or an activist by any stretch of the imagination, but I've had an incredible opportunity in my life to be a part of telling stories that matter. To be a part of art that reflects life in society and that can in turn, maybe, change the world.

"For me, I think that is sort of my guiding light for the roles I choose and the people I indulge with. At the core of it all, I've just been a fan of great stories," James said in response to a question from PTI during a virtual group interview.

Saying yes to the opportunity of sharing the screen space with Hollywood icon Julia Roberts or speaking the lines written by celebrated American author James Baldwin was a no-brainer for James.

"When you look at something like a 'Beale Street' that's directed by Barry Jenkins, and I get to say the words of James Baldwin, the great literary genius, I mean that should get anyone excited.

"So, it was a no-brainer to take on things like that. When someone says, 'You get to tell a story about veterans re-acclimating to civilian life. Oh, by the way, Julia Roberts is the star opposite you.' It's kind of a no-brainer. So I've just been really, really lucky to tell cool stories with really, really cool people."
"It just felt like a new thing. I tried not to compare it to that first season too much. Though they're connected, they sort of feel like they're their own separate worlds."
"For me, it was just great. I had great partners in the first season in Julia and Sam, and that really didn't change with Janelle Monae and Kyle Patrick Alvarez."
"Walter has a whole new mission. He has a target determination to not only figure out what happened to him in the first season, but to also right the wrongs and gain some sort of vengeance. So, for me that was exciting going into the second season."