“Scandal” star Tony Goldwyn has a new project on the horizon. He is the co-creator of WE tv’s highly anticipated series “The Divide,” which is the network’s first scripted program.
Created by Richard LaGravenese and Tony Goldwyn, the show stars Marin Ireland, Damon Gupton, Nia Long, Paul Schneider, Britne Oldford, and more. We were able to attend a special screening of the pilot episode and the show will not disappoint. The story (so far) follows Christine Rosa a case worker who wants to re-open the case of an inmate on death row, when new evidence appears. Doing so pits her against District Attorney Adam Page in his case against the inmate. Nia Long plays the role of Billie Page the wife of Adam Page. The story seems to be heading in a good direction. Not wanting to spoil anything I’m just going to say tune in on July 16 on WE tv for the series premiere of “The Divide.”
Tony Goldwyn shared that he started the show because, “I made a film in 2010 called ‘Conviction,’ which stars Sam Rockwell and Hilary Swank about a man who spent 18 years in prison for a crime that he didn’t commit. And his sister became an attorney to try and get him out and with the help of The Innocence Project, after 18 years, got exonerated off DNA evidence and that’s a true story. So, developing that film, I got very involved with The Innocence Project. I got to know Barry Scheck, and Peter Neufeld who founded it, and saw the extraordinary work they were doing, and heard story after story after story about spending time in prison after sometimes 20, 30 years for crimes that they didn’t commit. And I found this all very moving. So I finished that one, and I said to my friend Richard LaGravenese, you know I think there’s a TV idea explaining these themes of how this happens and the vagaries of our justice system, and our gray areas and our moralities, and our personal moralities and our attitudes towards innocence and guilt and right and wrong, so we really wanted to dig into the gray areas we all have in our own lives.”
Read our exclusive interviews with the cast below:
Damon Gupton
Can you tell me how you got involved with the project?
I auditioned here in New York, and I was lucky enough to be selected by Tony. It took a while we ended up doing it in LA and Philly and Toronto so you know just an audition and booking.
What about the script drew you into the story?
As I was mentioning earlier it’s complex, it’s complicated, it’s deep. These are intelligent and ambitious people and the material is written that way and so that is an amazing opportunity for all of us.
How was it working with Tony and Richard?
Oh fantastic, not only are they the nicest guys, they are such deeply experienced professionals that it only makes you a better performer.
Britne Oldford
How did you get involved with the project?
I got involved with the project because I first initially received an audition offer from my agency and after reading it, I thought it was very important project to do. The people involved are so incredible that I gave it a shot, and auditioned and I got it and then we shot the pilot, and now we’re hear today which is pretty incredible.
Can you tell me what about the script drew you into the story?
The content, the subject matter of the story is what drew me in. The relationships between each character and the case that has brought everyone together in the show as well as the character Jenny Butler who I play was so heartbreaking, she’s such a tragic person and I knew I could play her well and I gave it a shot.
Can you tell me how working with Tony and Richard is?
Working with Tony and Richard is incredible they’re so kind generous and supportive and I honestly couldn’t be happier with everyone in the cast.
Marin Ireland
Can you tell me how you got involved in the project?
I’ve known Tony for a while in the theater community here in New York and we’ve never gotten a chance to work together and he say’s that I was the first person he thought of for the part which is nice whether he is making it up or not it is a great thing and I’ll go with it.
Can you tell me what about the script drew you in?
I really become passionate about The Innocence Project while we working on this. I was lucky enough to do an internship there before we starting shooting the season and I really started feeling like this is the kind of thing people need to know more about and I’m really excited that the show will bring some awareness to that.
Can you tell me a little about you character?
Christine is a law student when we meet her she’s an intern at the Innocence Initiative which is our version of the innocence project and she’s very very head strong, stubborn and very passionate so she’s always feeling that her way is the right way which sometimes is great she gets a lot of things done but can also act as blinders for her and then she gets in new trouble sometimes.
I know you told me you and Tony already knew each other but can you tell me how working with him and Richard is?
Richard always says that they’re two halves of the same brain so they really act incredibly well together. I can’t believe this is the first project they’ve really collaborated this deeply on because they have such a great shorthand and they became family to me. They’re so generous and kind and supportive and it was really in that way a complete dreamy experience.
A fabulous party followed at Circo.
