Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • WeLoveUs.shop
  • 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • Entertainment

WATCH: Don Cheadle On His Character And Navigating Racial Tensions In ‘Fight Night’

The award-winning actor reflects on portraying a Black detective and building dynamic on-screen rivalry with Kevin Hart.
By Essence · Updated September 18, 2024
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

In Peacock’s new series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, Don Cheadle steps into the role of J.D. Hudson, a Black detective navigating the racial complexities of 1970s Atlanta. In an exclusive interview, Cheadle discusses what initially drew him to the role and the extensive preparation required to portray a Black detective in a desegregated police force during such a turbulent era. 

Cheadle also explores his on-screen chemistry with Kevin Hart, who plays Gordon “Chicken Man” Williams, a key figure in the narrative. The actor sheds light on how the tension between their characters drives the story forward, creating an electrifying dynamic between law and crime.

TOPICS:  Black Movies Don Cheadle fight night Peacock