All American: Da’Vinchi Discusses Darnell’s Future and How the Series Impacted His Own Family [Exclusive Interview] | Tell-Tale TV

Model and rapper Da’Vinchi first appeared on the small screen in the former Marvel mega-hit Jessica Jones on Netflix, and he’s been booking roles on hit series like Grown-ish and The Boys ever since.

He hung up the basketball jersey that he wore on Grown-ish when his character Cash Mooney left Zoey Johnson’s (Yara Shahidi) life for good. He quickly traded it in for a football helmet in 2019 when he joined All American Season 2 to play Crenshaw High’s quarterback Darnell Hayes.

I got to talk to Da’Vinchi about Darnell’s evolution on the show, the complexity of parental relationships, and the next destination in his acting career.

You could say it was fate that Da’Vinchi joined All American. When the show was casting its pilot, he read for the starring role of Spencer James several times before it was given to Daniel Ezra.

“I was like, ‘Oh they really like me, but I guess they’re just trying to find out where they can squeeze me in,” he said recalling the original auditions. Remembering that helped him push through jetlag to make a self-tape when this new role came to him.

It was worth it. Darnell has done so much more than squeeze into Crenshaw. He’s basically the third James brother now. 

Even though Da’Vinchi describes the cast as a family off-screen, the road to brotherhood on-screen hasn’t been easy for Spencer and Darnell. Spencer is first introduced to Darnell as the son of his estranged father Corey’s (Chad L. Coleman) ex-girlfriend; he’s the kid Corey chose to raise after leaving his wife and two biological sons. 

It’s a hard reality for anyone to accept, so Spencer’s anger toward his father is understandable. His resentment toward Darnell is unwarranted, and thankfully Spencer realizes that before he runs Darnell out of town.

The guys have grown since then. But since viewers mostly see All American through Spencer’s eyes, there’s always more to learn about Darnell, even as the Season 2 finale approaches. 

“Darnell is a really driven, passionate, smart kid who was forced to grow up a lot quicker and sooner than regular kids,” Da’Vinchi said, before providing more insight into Corey and Darnell’s dynamic. “He’s very mature, and I think him not really having his mom and being raised by his step-father hardened him. It was a tough-love type of situation.”

Despite Spencer’s attitude toward him, Darnell has the best intentions. But the boys only begin to mend fences on the football field.

They’re both struggling with the fact that Corey has abandoned them again while playing a 7-on-7 exhibition game on All American Season 2 Episode 6, “Hard Knock Life” —  that one of Beverly High’s boosters has rigged. He’s paid the refs off to allow rough fouls against Crenshaw. Spencer realizes what’s going on and takes a knee in protest, forfeiting the game.

Darnell appreciates the gesture and mirrors it in one of the most powerful moments of Season 2 so far. 

“It was a beautiful, touching moment because cause it was like… peace, you know? [The gesture] just let you know if you do something right out of love it puts everything aside,” Da’Vinchi said of the scene. “I think pain and injustice — it brings everyone together.”

It’s hard to argue with that statement, considering that on the very next episode (All American Season 2 Episode 7, “Coming Home”) the James family and Darnell find Corey at his cabin to confront him about hiding his cancer. 

The blended family bonds for the weekend and Spencer finally lets go of his bitter feelings toward Darnell. 

Tragedy strikes at the end of the episode when Corey unexpectedly dies. Spencer is able to make some memories with his dad that weekend. But a scene featuring just Darnell and Corey is sadly missing. 

I asked Da’Vinchi what he thinks Darnell would say if given the chance to have a heart-to-heart with the man who raised him on screen. He predicted there would be love expressed and tears shed.  

“Darnell is this talented quarterback now because of Corey,” he said. “He has this bright future now [mostly] because of Corey because his mother’s been gone because she’s in the military majority of his life. So, Corey was really everything to him.”

It’s a shame that this powerful moment doesn’t actually exist in the world of All American, but “Coming Home” has had a powerful impact on Da’Vinchi’s personal life. 

His relationship with his father is most similar to Spencer and Corey’s. The scene in which Spencer explains to Darnell what it feels like not to have the memories of his dad that Darnell does hit Da’Vinchi’s father hard. 

“My mother, after that episode she called me and we were having a conversation about it. And she told me how my father, when he watched the show, he was just really quiet and just watching it and just pondering on it. I think it hit everybody who’s dealt with a situation like that.”

Darnell exudes an energy that is wise beyond his years on screen, and it’s thanks in part to his portrayer. Da’Vinchi’s relationship with his parents improved as he matured. 

“I forgave my parents for whatever they’ve done,” he said. ” I don’t expect them to be rocket scientists and know everything about how to properly raise a child. Nobody does.”

This universal truth is present throughout every parent/child relationship on All American, including Darnell’s relationship with his mom. 

Darnell may have had Corey, but as we see on All American Season 2 Episode 12, “Only Time Will Tell,” going back to Germany to live with Renée (Dana L. Wilson) isn’t what’s best for his future.

California is his home now, and viewers are about to learn what that word means to him. “He’s about to basically put Crenshaw on his back as if he’s from there, but only because he just sees there’s this need that he feels like he can definitely help with the situation,” Da’Vinchi said. 

In an odd case of life imitating art, the actor has been spending a lot of time in his character’s former home, Nevada, filming the upcoming HBO Max series, Vegas High. You can also catch Da’Vinchi alongside Ben Affleck in The Way Back beginning March 6th.

But don’t worry, Da’Vinchi isn’t leaving All American anytime soon. “[Darnell is] definitely going to be involved even more as time goes on. So, [he’s] not going anywhere.”

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All American airs at 8/7c on The CW. 

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Esme Mazzeo

Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she’s not writing for work, she’s writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.