Meanwhile, with the casino’s fate hanging in the balance, the local political machine kicks into overdrive.
In these unprecedented times, death and danger lurk around every corner.
Soon after, Hailey (a.k.a.
‘P-Valley’ stars Parker Sawyers, Elarica Johnson, Nicco Annan, Brandee Evans, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Shannon Thornton.Starz
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:The official synopsis says that a “darkness descends” on Chucalissa in season 2.
What can you tell us about this darkness?
Is it literal, like a power outage?
Nicco Annan and Elarica Johnson in ‘P-Valley’ season 2.Starz
KATORI HALL:[laughs] It’s interesting.
I mean, there’s the literal darkness of having to deal with things shutting down.
We decided to really embrace the present moment and to fold the pandemic into the storytelling of our show.
Nicco Annan and Brandee Evans in ‘P-Valley’ season 2.Starz
and “Is he really dead?”
How soon will we get those answers in season 2?
You will definitely get those answers.
Shannon Thornton and J. Alphonse Nicholson in ‘P-Valley’ season 2.Starz
How would you describe their dynamic this season?
I think it’s surprising.
I don’t think they come out of the gate being stereotypically catty with each other.
Elarica Johnson and Dan J. Johnson in ‘P-Valley’ season 2.Starz
They’re two very smart people.
She’s a shape-shifter.
But she is not a woman who stays down for long.
What can you tell us about her arc this season?
It looks like she’s back at the Pynk.
you could’t keep her down for long you could’t keep her downat all.
This season, we have her out of retirement, like Michael Jordan.
I love Uncle Clifford’s red lacy mask in this new photo.
It doesn’t look entirely COVID-safe, but it is fabulous.
[Laughs] She’s like, “I’m gonna go out with style.
I gotta get my Corona Couture game up.”
She’s there with all the amazing masks.
She has a mask for every occasion.
Most of them don’t work, but hey, she’s fashionable.
One of the photos we have is of Keyshawn and Lil' Murda in a hotel room.
When we last saw them, their careers were on the verge of blowing up.
Will they be taking their show on the road this season?
They’re gonna have a baby."
Speaking of Lil' Murda, we need to talk about one of our favoriteP-Valleycouples.
Lil' Murda really screwed things up with Uncle Clifford in the finale.
Is he going to make it right with her this season?
Girl, I don’t know if you’re free to make that right [laughs].
And we were like, “Nothing.
He just needs to grow up.
He has a lot of things to figure out but it ain’t gonna be easy!
He ain’t going to regain Uncle Clifford’s trust that easy.
Might Uncle Clifford give Lil' Murda some competition by finding a new love interest this season?
I must say, Uncle Clifford, she pulls them.
She pulls the boys so I think she’ll be okay as Lil' Murda figures his stuff out.
What can you tell us about her journey this season will she find that key?
She immediately, even when the gun was in her hand, felt regret.
You could see it on her face as the tears were streaming down.
I’m really excited for audiences to see how she moves forward.
She’s the one who has these ideas about business.
She is so vibrant, so smart, so savvy.
And I’m really excited for audiences to see that side of her.
Give us a tease of the casino drama to come.
They need waterfront property, and the Pynk is on the water.
That’s also going to be one of the big storylines.
She wants to deal with the big dogs.
She wants to deal with the casino developers themselves.
Who really is the savior of the Pynk?
But in all actuality, like I said, she always revealed herself to be super manipulative.
But the beautiful thing is, I think Uncle Clifford issneakier.
Mayor Tydell Ruffin (Isaiah Washington) wasn’t too pleased about losing the Pynk either.
Last year, Washington announced his departure from the show.
Without spoiling anything, what can you preview about Tydell’s role in the drama this season?
He’s present without being super present.
What I mean by that is he’s present without being physically present.
So when Andre comes back to town, it’s because of Tydell Ruffin.
He comes back to be reconnected to the town beyond just working on some big old casino development project.
And it’s Tydell who brings his godson back in, in an unexpected way.
It’s like the prodigal son returning home.
There are so many stories to tell withP-Valley, and every season we shift the story.
In season 2, for me it was really about embracing what is happening in our world today.
Lionsgate had no say in how I wanted to write the show.
They probably want more say!
It’s unfortunate that that’s what he thinks, but that’s definitely not the case.
Finally, we’ve got to talk about Andre.
It seems like he did it for Hailey.
What can you preview about his relationship with her this season?
I love the fact that you saw that he made a choice.
He could have swiped the Pynk away from her.
He could have just made the decision himself and gotten in trouble later yet he didn’t.
I think there was something impulsive.
I think there was something unexplainable.
There’s a deep connection between those two, a soul connection.
In his heart of hearts, deep down inside, he’s hoping there’s a future between them.
P-Valleyseason 2 premieres June 3 on Starz.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
