When it comes to longevity in Hollywood, Sean Patrick Thomas is the definition of staying power. From Cruel Intentions to Reasonable Doubt, and now stepping into the superhero universe with Gen V Season 2, Thomas has consistently shown his range. But beyond the roles he’s played, he’s equally vocal about the changes still needed in the industry.
In our conversation about Gen V, Thomas shared his perspective on representation in Hollywood and why he believes true progress hinges on how scripts are written.
“When I first started in this business, if you looked like me or looked like you, I would say 90% of the roles were either comic relief or you’re some type of threatening presence, some type of criminal or something like that,” Thomas recalled. “And have things gotten better since then? Absolutely! I mean, we’ve got Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther. And we’ve made strides—absolutely. It’s still not good enough. It’s still not good enough.”
For Thomas, the problem isn’t just about opportunities; it’s about how characters are conceived on the page.
“There are better roles, but there aren’t enough of us working,” he said. “There are hundreds of brilliant Black actors and artists out there who aren’t getting to show their true colors of what they’re really capable of. Because still most scripts that I read aren’t written in such a way where anybody could play it.”
Instead, Thomas envisions an industry where characters are crafted without race being the starting point.
“We need more scripts and more characters where they’re not written with any particular race in mind. They’re just people who just are who they are. And then you see which actor fits that role the best. And a lot of the time I think you will find it’s going to be somebody that’s outside of the norm. It’s going to be somebody who’s not a straight white man,” he shared. “And we need to write more roles that aren’t prescribed for certain groups of people, roles that anybody could play. And that’s when we’re really going to be starting making progress.”
Representation isn’t just about visibility, it’s about opportunity at the foundation level, where scripts are born. By removing pre-prescribed labels, the industry has the chance to unlock a wider pool of talent and reflect the world more authentically.
Check out the full interview.
Photo Credit: Instagram – SeanPThomas
