Aldis Hodge on "The City on a Hill" and the loyalty of Showtime's "Leverage" fans: "I wish we could give you a movie"

It's a bit of a step forward to play a charming hacker working with a team of reformed crooks at the representation of an assistant crusader prosecutor. But if anyone knows that the role of an actor is to be versatile, that is Aldis Hodge, who has been working in the entertainment industry since the age of three years.

Hodge, who starred in the Portland film series "Leverage" for five seasons and also starred in "Underground", the critically acclaimed drama about escaped slaves and abolitionists in the years of Before the American Civil War, back on the television screens of "City on a Hill", an ambitious new drama presented at Showtime on Sunday, June 16th.

The series takes place in the early 90s in Boston and focuses on a time when the city was plagued by racism and corruption from law enforcement forces believed to uphold justice.

Kevin Bacon is a long-time FBI agent, Jackie Rohr, who himself has a great deal of experience with corruption. Nevertheless, Rohr associates with Decourcy Ward (Hodge), an assistant attorney who wants to undermine Boston's criminal justice system.

Executive producers include Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, as well as TV veteran Tom Fontana ("Homicide: Life on the Street"), who is also the showrunner.

Speaking of his character at a roundtable on "City on a Hill" during the winter press tour at the Television Critics Association, Mr. Hodge said that Mr. Ward was "very attached to the". idea of ​​justice, but he realized that he might have to get his hands dirty. do the work. So how many battles do you want to lose to win the war?

"And I've been talking to real helpers and, to some extent, that's the reality," said Hodge. "Sometimes you have to give up a little. Sometimes you have to have a little moldy hands to get in, but you always fight to maintain your creditworthiness and who you are, the truth about who you are. "

After the panel, Hodge reflected on the contrast between his recent and serious roles and the escape appeal of "Leverage". This series, which turned out with the exception of its first season in Portland, took a generally light approach to stories about a team (played by Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Hodge, Christian Kane, and Beth Riesgraf) who used their skills law-abiding to help the under-exploited villains to be exploited by evil felines.

Although "Leverage" has been canceled by TNT, the series still has a dedicated fan base, watching it in reruns.

"It's crazy for me," said Hodge about the sustainable appeal of "Leverage".

"I mean, we are in 2019, we stopped shooting seven years ago, in 2012," said Hodge. "People still love this show. I have never been part of an experience like this, where people hang on to it, they always ask the next season, seven years later. "

In jest, Hodge said, "I'm like, I've been on two, three, four different sets at that time and you're talking about" Leverage "."

It's good for him, Hodge added. "I like that, the fandom is crazy."

"Leverage" continues to attract new fans, he said. The show is broadcast "in markets that see us for the first time, all over the world. For them, it's cool. But it's a little sad, from time to time, to have to tell a fan that, sorry, you realize we're done and we're not coming back. "

Disappointed fans will say, "Well, give us a movie!" Said Hodge with a smile. "I would like us to be able to give you a movie. I am all for. "

Hodge said, "Leveraged devotion" is something I have never known before. But I'm really grateful for that. "

"City on a Hill" presents the first of his 10-hour episodes on Sunday, June 16 at 9 pm on Showtime.

– Kristi Turnquist

[email protected] 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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