Jeffrey Wright

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Featuring Jeffrey Wright

Podcast Title: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Host: CBS
Episode Guest: Jeffrey Wright
Release Date: December 2, 2024
Where to Watch: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35/10:35c on CBS and is available for streaming on Paramount+.
Promotional Offer: Use discount code "TLS20” for 20% off all The Late Show with Stephen Colbert products on ParamountShop.com.

---

Introduction to Jeffrey Wright

In this engaging episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes back the multifaceted actor Jeffrey Wright, celebrated for his Tony and Emmy awards and renowned for his roles in The French Dispatch, The Batman, and the upcoming thriller series The Agency. The conversation spans Wright's illustrious career, his influential performances, his collaboration with legendary actors, and his personal life, including his son's burgeoning career in the arts.

---

Reflecting on Angels in America and Broadway

A Milestone in Theater

Stephen opens the discussion by highlighting the significance of Wright's portrayal of Belize in the original Broadway production of Angels in America at the Walter Kerr Theater in 1993.

Stephen Colbert (01:00): "Marks 30 years since you won the Tony award for playing Belize in Angels in America."

Wright delves into the profound impact the play had on him and the broader theatrical community.

Jeffrey Wright (01:37): "There were moments on stage when I felt that I'm where I should be in the world. It was incredible, incredibly powerful."

He emphasizes the play's role in validating the struggles of those affected by AIDS and its influence on activism and legislative changes.

Jeffrey Wright (02:00): "This work can make a difference... We have a responsibility now more than ever, not to back down."

---

Collaborating with Al Pacino

Behind the Scenes with a Legend

The conversation transitions to Wright's experience reprising his role as Belize in the HBO miniseries Angels in America, directed by Mike Nichols, alongside the iconic Al Pacino.

Jeffrey Wright (04:15): "He's playing a dying man... he does that with more energy than anyone you could possibly imagine."

Wright shares the demanding schedule, balancing rehearsals for Top Dog, Underdog on Broadway and filming the miniseries. His admiration for Pacino's dedication and performance shines through.

Jeffrey Wright (04:48): "He dies hard. It was incredible work."

---

Spotlight on Elijah Wright: A Rising Star

A Proud Father's Perspective

Stephen shifts the conversation to Wright's son, Elijah Wright, highlighting his first film role and aspirations in acting and directing.

Jeffrey Wright (05:01): "Elijah is studying out in California... he wants to direct."

Wright recounts Elijah's audition process for Spike Lee's upcoming movie with Denzel Washington, expressing immense pride despite the challenges faced.

Jeffrey Wright (06:50): "He got the part... So I'm very proud of him. Super proud of him."

---

Unveiling The Agency: An Espionage Thriller

Exploring New Horizons in Television

The highlight of the episode is the introduction of Jeffrey Wright's new series, The Agency. Stephen delves into the premise and Wright's role within it.

Stephen Colbert (08:19): "You're now starring in a new espionage thriller called The Agency."

Wright describes his character, the deputy chief of the CIA's London station, and his collaboration with co-stars Michael Fassbender and Richard Gere.

Jeffrey Wright (08:29): "I play the deputy chief of Station, the CIA based in London."

He humorously clarifies that his on-screen portrayals do not translate to real-world qualifications for CIA roles, engaging in playful banter with Colbert about potential government positions.

Jeffrey Wright (09:35): "If my name is floated for a nomination, I will be withdrawing my name."

This segment encapsulates the show's signature mix of insightful discussion and lighthearted humor, building anticipation for the series premiere.

---

Engaging Banter and Wrap-Up

Light-Hearted Conversations

As the episode progresses, Stephen and Jeffrey engage in humorous exchanges about hypothetical government roles, showcasing their camaraderie and wit.

Jeffrey Wright (10:18): "I like boats."

Stephen Colbert (10:25): "I want to be Secretary of Defense because I like khaki."

These moments add a personal and entertaining layer to the discussion, making the episode both informative and enjoyable.

Final Remarks

Stephen wraps up the conversation by promoting The Agency and other Paramount Plus offerings, encouraging listeners to tune in and support the show's latest ventures.

Stephen Colbert (11:01): "The Showtime original series, The Agency."

---

Key Takeaways

• Impact of Angels in America: Jeffrey Wright reflects on the transformative power of the play and its role in activism and social change.

• Collaborations with Legends: Wright's experience working with Al Pacino highlights the dedication and talent present in his projects.

• A Father's Pride: Elijah Wright's entry into acting and directing underscores the legacy and influence within the Wright family.

• New Ventures: The Agency represents Jeffrey Wright's continued evolution as an actor, promising a thrilling addition to Paramount Plus's lineup.

• Humorous Interactions: The episode balances serious discussions with playful banter, showcasing the rapport between Stephen Colbert and Jeffrey Wright.

---

Listen and Subscribe

Stay updated with the latest episodes of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert by subscribing on your favorite podcast platform. For more clips and exclusives, visit The Late Show YouTube channel.

---

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductory remarks, and closing segments unrelated to the main content to provide a focused and comprehensive overview of the episode's key discussions and insights.

Transcript

[Paramount Ads Manager]

You may be tempted to skip this ad, but don't marketers want their audience to stick around? And with Paramount Ads Manager, you can advertise your business on the biggest shows on TV for 30 unskippable seconds. Run your ads in premium content on Paramount plus and over 15 major networks with hit shows, movies, sports and more, all on the biggest screen in the house. Put your business in show business with Paramount Ads manager, go to adsmanager.paramount.com that's adsmanager.paramount.com to learn more.

[Jeffrey Wright]

It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome back, everybody. My next guest tonight is a Tony, an Emmy award winning actor, you know, from movies including the French Dispatch, the Batman and American Fiction. He now stars in the new thriller series the Agency. Please welcome back to THE LATE Show, Jeffrey Wright. Hi, Jeffrey Wright. Good to see you again.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Hello, Stephen.

[Stephen Colbert]

2024.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Marks 30 years since you won the Tony award for playing Belize in Angels in America.

[Jeffrey Wright]

I was five years old.

[Stephen Colbert]

There you go. There you are playing Belize. And Ron Liebman as Roy Cohn in the original Broadway production at the Walter kerr Theater in 1993. You know, you can kind of measure modern Broadway from like before Angels in America and after Angels in America. It was such a significant, such a mammoth work, you know, just in the scale of it and the reverberations, the artistic community. What was it like to do that play at that time?

[Jeffrey Wright]

Well, you know, I think we should all be so fortunate at times in our lives to say I am doing what I am meant to be doing. And there were moments on stage when I felt that, that I'm where I should be in the world. It was incredible, incredibly powerful. I would look out in the audience at times and you would see people who were visibly sick of this disease, aids, who were perhaps dying. And this play was an opportunity for their struggles, their concerns, their challenges to be validated, their lives to be celebrated in a way that changed me forever. And what it was early in my career, relatively so. And it gave me a sense that, you know what, this work can be important because as well, what followed. And it was part of a wave of things that led to this activism, other works of art, communities coming together to push legislative change that would actually expand the rights of this country to people who had been marginalized previously. So it said to me, you know, this work can make a difference. And I think particularly you just had Hakeem Jeffries on it, who was before they redrew the district lines, my congressman in Brooklyn. I Think that there's a responsibility not only for folks like him to step up now, but for artists as well and storytellers to do what we can to raise the discourse, to call out what is right and call out what is wrong and play a role as those who can help drive our vision toward a more progressive society alive. I think we have a responsibility now more than ever, not to back down.

[Stephen Colbert]

You then went on to play Belize again in the HBO miniseries directed by Mike Nichols, for which you won an Emmy. Here you are playing Belize again, and this time with Al Pacino, with Roy Cohn. I've always wanted to interview Mr. Pacino. Haven't had a chance to look forward to it. Hopefully someday. What was he like to work with?

[Jeffrey Wright]

Oh, he's amazing. He's amazing. But I'll tell you, I was doing that film with him in the morning. I was doing a play on Broadway, Top Dog, Underdog in the evening. So I'd go to work with him and everyone else, Meryl Streep and everyone else who was involved in the show. And then about 6:00, I would duck out and come up to do the show. There were days where I could barely stand up on stage because working with Al Pacino, even though he was playing Roy Cohn, a dastardly character who was dying and I was his nurse, even though he was playing a dying man, he did that with more energy than anyone you could possibly imagine. He dies.

[Stephen Colbert]

He died at you. Harder.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Oh, my God. He dies hard. It was incredible work.

[Stephen Colbert]

You've had a chance recently to work with someone else you're particularly close to, a talented young actor named Elijah Wright. Tell me about this young man.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Oh, my goodness. Wow. Well, that's my son who, who will be seen next year in his first film role, Public. I've been in some of his films. He's a director as well. I played a monster, a ghoul in a film that he directed when he was about 7 years old and barely could hold a. Could hold a camera. But I'm in Spike Lee's next movie with Denzel Washington, which is based on Kurosawa's film High and Low, which is a beautiful film. Spike is revisiting that film and setting it in New York with Denzel playing the lead and I'm playing his right hand man. And so we were rehearsing Spike and I one day, and he says to me, he says, elijah's reading with Denzel on Monday. You're going to audition with him. I said, what? So Elijah is studying out in California. But he's also been auditioning. He wants to act. He makes music. He wants to direct. You know, has a full range of interest. But he had been up for this part. The process took many months. Ultimately, unfortunately, he did not get the part. But the casting director was the same casting director for Spike's movie, and apparently she had sent him Elisha's tape with a chance of playing my son in the movie. So Spike says he's reading with Denzel. I'm like, okay, all right. So this is on a Friday. That following Monday, Elijah goes in and reads with Denzel. And I get this call from Denzel, and he says, yeah, you know, we thought it was going to work out. You know, he did his best, but, you know, you know, this one. This one's going to. He's just not up for it for this one. I said, wait, what, dude? What are you talking about? You're calling from his phone. So clearly. Clearly something's up here. And he said, yeah, man, he got the part. And, you know, and that's nice. It was really cool.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's nice.

[Jeffrey Wright]

But that's the first step. He got the part. And then, you know, I have to say I'm biased, but he does. He does some beautiful work in this film. So much so that I was working with him, and I was having to keep up. I was like, oh, you know. Cause, you know, we have our tricks, you know, that we play. We do. And that guy has no tricks. You know, he's just bringing it straight and, like, organic and beautiful. So I'm very proud of him. Super proud of him.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, that's lovely. That's lovely. We have to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more Jeffrey Wright. Everybody stick around.

[Paramount Ads Manager]

Okay, I have to tell you, I was just looking on ebay, where I go for all kinds of things I love.

[Stephen Colbert]

And there it was, that hologram trading card.

[Jeffrey Wright]

One of the rarest. The last one I needed for my set. Shiny, like the designer handbag of my dreams. One of a kind. Ebay had it. And now everyone's asking, ooh, where'd you get your windshield wipers? Ebay has all the parts that fit my car. No more annoying, just beautiful.

[Paramount Ads Manager]

Whatever you love, find it on eBay. EBay. Things people love.

[Stephen Colbert]

We're here with one of the stars of the new show, the Agency. It's Jeffrey Wright. You're now starring in a new espionage thriller called the Agency.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, you're not. This is. You're not new to the world of Espionage. You played Felix Leiter.

[Jeffrey Wright]

That's right.

[Stephen Colbert]

In all them Bond movies.

[Jeffrey Wright]

That's right.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, two quick questions. One is, do you think you'd be a good spy?

[Jeffrey Wright]

Okay, first of all, I have to say something. Wait. Okay, so the new series. I play the deputy chief of Station, the CIA based in London. Michael Fassbender plays an agent who's just back from the field in Ethiopia. Richard Gere plays the station chief. Yes, I played this role. Henry Ogletree, you know, by the book guy. I also played Felix Leiter. That's correct. CIA. But I need to make something clear. Okay, I've played these roles, yes. I've been pretty successful with it. But it in no way qualifies me, for example, to be Director of the CIA. Okay. No, I'm serious. I'm serious. Yes, I've been on TV doing these things. But if my name is floated for a nomination, I will be withdrawing my name. Okay? Now, Stephen, you are of the top shelf of people who are on TV regularly. You.

[Stephen Colbert]

No one's offered me Jack.

[Jeffrey Wright]

I would offer you. I would offer you, like, champion of the Exchequer, at the very least. Something like that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, sure, sure. I'll do the Exchequer.

[Jeffrey Wright]

It doesn't matter that we don't have you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Skim a little off the top for Daddy.

[Jeffrey Wright]

There you go. It doesn't matter that we just.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Jeffrey Wright]

I know we don't have one, but you just make these things up as you go along.

[Stephen Colbert]

I said I was willing to do one if I got a really good ambassadorship. I would just drop the show in a minute if I got someplace really good. Yeah, I hear, you know, someplace tropical.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Yeah, would be nice. But you know what I might accept, though? Like something like head of the Coast Guard or something like that. Cause I like boats.

[Stephen Colbert]

Really?

[Jeffrey Wright]

Yeah. And I've been on T. And I've been on tv.

[Stephen Colbert]

What more do I need? I want to be Secretary of Defense because I like khaki.

[Jeffrey Wright]

That's all it takes. You're qualified. Apparently.

[Stephen Colbert]

Apparently.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Apparently. And you're on tv. Go for it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I would rather you, buddy.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Oh, man.

[Stephen Colbert]

So lovely to see you. Thank you so much for being here. Great to see you, my friend. The Agency premieres next Friday on Paramount plus with Showtime. It's Jeffrey Wright, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

[Jeffrey Wright]

The Showtime original series, the Agency.

[Stephen Colbert]

Lie to everyone. Risk your life on a daily basis.

[Jeffrey Wright]

No glamour, no exploding.

[Stephen Colbert]

Watch.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Starring Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner Smith and Richard Gere.

[Stephen Colbert]

The CIA sends us out into the world to behave in dangerous ways.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Whatever it takes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Make it impossible.

[Jeffrey Wright]

You deploy undercover for years. People come back damaged from that. This is the Agency. Nothing is personal. The Agency series now streaming on the Paramount plus with Showtime Plan. Don't miss. New episodes of Yellowstone. Sundays only on Paramount Network. You destroy me, you destroy yourself.

[Stephen Colbert]

Unlike you, I keep my promises.

[Jeffrey Wright]

Yellowstone. New episodes, Sundays on Paramount Network.