Here’s How a Hip-Hop Artist Accidentally Helped Ramón Rodríguez Get His ‘Will Trent’ Role
One of the hottest new cop shows on the block, Will Trent is a series that has captured the attention of fans of all ages. Fresh, funny, and packed with romance and drama, Will Trent stars Ramón Rodríguez in the title role. Rodriguez is no stranger to the entertainment industry. In fact, he’s had prominent roles in shows like The Wire and is known for being a handsome hunk. However, his role in Will Trent was new to him – and he threw himself headfirst into preparing to play a dyslexic Agent. In a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon, Rodriguez opened up about how he prepared for the series and the inspiration for Will Trent’s voice.
What is ‘Will Trent’ about?
Will Trent debuted on ABC on January 3, 2023. The show is based on the novel series by Karin Slaughter and tells the story of a Special Agent named Will Trent who has risen to become a brilliant detective, despite being raised in a foster home and still dealing with the traumatic consequences of being abandoned by his parents. Trent has made enemies within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation due to his high case-solving rate – but all the while, he remains focused on his work.
Fans have gravitated towards Will Trent from the start, embracing the quirky character and all his lovable traits. For Rodriguez, playing Will was the opportunity of a lifetime and he took his preparation for the role very seriously, working with a dialect coach to master Will’s unique accent.
Ramón Rodríguez Basing His Voice on a Famous Hip-Hop Artist ‘Will Trent’
One of Will Trent’s defining characteristics is his thick Southern accent. In a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon, Rodriguez revealed that he turned to an unlikely source of inspiration to master the accent. “One of the first things I wanted to address was, ‘Okay, this guy is from Atlanta.’ You know, I wanted to be honest about this character,” Rodriguez told Fallon. “So I got a dialect coach to help me take away some of the Puerto Rican New York sounds and help me get into that molasses sound, that beautiful, rich Southern sound.”
Rodriguez went on to describe how “We actually found a role model. We found… this artist from Outkast, Andre 3000. We used them just as an inspiration. Not trying to copy him, but finding the nuances and the characteristics of his sound. [We tried] to take some of that and some of that and combine it to create the Will Trent sound.”
Fans are completely invested in Will Trent – and even though the series is relatively new, many have already begun to speculate that a second season may be in the works. As of now, the series has yet to receive a renewal notice. However, some media outlets are reporting that the signs are pointing to an upcoming renewal notice for Will Trent. According to Matt & Jess TV Commentary, the show has exceeded initial expectations, attracting and retaining viewers at an incredible rate. Combine this with the fact that there is still a lot of source material for the series to tap into in the original novels, and it seems likely that the producers will look to renew Will Trent for a second season.
While waiting for a renewal announcement, fans can watch the first season of Will Trent on ABC or stream it on Hulu!
