Wu-Tang: An American Saga premieres with its third season on Wednesday, February 15 on Hulu. New episodes stream every Wu-Wednesday, and if you've overlooked the series, now is the perfect time to catch up and follow this incredible story.
Off the release of their debut album and their continued rise to fame, the final season follows the Wu-Tang Clan over the course of their five-year plan as they face and overcome different challenges.
While each of the members goes on separate journeys to figure out where they fit in the music world, RZA struggles to stay on top of things in order to fulfil the promise he made to his Wu brothers. As money, fame, ego, and business threaten to tear the group apart, they must find a way to come together and cement their legacy.
Shameik Moore plays Raekwon "The Chef" in the series, and with each member of the group finding their own individual success when we catch up with them here, it's a joy watching where he takes the rapper at this pivotal stage of his journey.
When we spoke to the actor, we learned more about what viewers can expect from season 3, how his approach to the show has changed since season 1, and the cultural importance of telling this story. Moore also opens up on the importance has played in his acting career.
Oh, and for those of you who know him best for playing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse's Miles Morales, we learn what the biggest difference between Wu-Tang and Marvel fans is and get a very exciting Across the Spider-Verse tease.
Watch the full interview in the player below.
I was watching some season 1 interviews where you talked about not knowing much about Wu-Tang Clan when you were cast, so how would you say your relationship with their music and Raekwon have evolved heading into this third season?
The music, yeah, all I’ve been doing is listening to the music. I’m a fighter, so when I’ve been boxing, I’m pretty much only listening to Wu-Tang. I throw in Biggie, though, but it’s mostly Wu, for real. It’s been an honour this whole time and playing Raekwon ‘The Chef’…I don’t even really know how to explain it. It’s really like finding a part of myself. He was gracious enough to allow me to meet him and take in what I was able to take in, and I’ve been able to apply that to the work. Yeah, that’s all I’ve got [Laughs].
It goes without saying that hip hop is incredibly important to this series, as it was in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, for example, so do you find yourself gravitating towards projects where music is a big part of the stories you’re telling?
I think the stars are just already aligned, you know? What’s part of me is part of me and I kind of just walk in my purpose. The fact that…I think I make everything me. Like Bruce Lee said, I try to be like water and take the form of whatever the container is [Laughs]. With Spider-Verse, I add my ‘oomph,’ and here is it, it comes off the way it comes off because they’ve got my water in there. It’s the same thing with Wu-Tang, Dope, and The Get Down. It’s all really purposeful and what I would be good in. That’s why I have this job because it’s good for me.
In this season, we start seeing each member of the group find their own individual success to varying degrees, and that does drive a wedge between them in some cases; what did you enjoy most about Raekwon’s arc in these episodes?
Well, in the first season, it was like, ‘I’m gonna get my food, son.’ In the second, it was, ‘A’ight, we’re here, what’s up? What we doing? If we’re gonna do it, we gotta do it. I’ll give you five years, what’s next?’ In this season, it’s ‘Oh sh*t son, I’ve got my money, I’m about to make my album, and you all know what’s going on.’ I’m here and I know what I’ve got after working hard to be here. It was nice to experience that through the character because I don’t really move that way as me. I enjoy being allowed to explore that part of my own spirit.
This is the final season, of course, but do you feel this is the right time to end this story or is there more with Raekwon you’d have liked to delve into given the chance?
It’s perfect timing. I’m ready for the next character.
As you reach the end of this journey and look back at what you’ve all achieved, what about telling this story do you think has proven to be most important to you?
It’s not just them, you know? I think that’s why Wu-Tang is so important. It’s a show to a lot of people, but when you think of reality, the show is putting a lot of things together and is fictional in a way. There’s some reality and storytelling. I say that to say, people need representation. There are a lot of people dealing with things that these guys were dealing with in the 90s today.
It’s representation and when you dive into what’s being said and what’s being taught through the mathematics and actual special sauce that O.G. and all the creators have put in there underneath it, it’s for the people that it’s for. It’s doing what it’s supposed to do. It will probably be a slow burn. The people that have seen it so far have seen it, but I think the more everybody else - like me, Ashton, Siddiq, TJ, Johnell, and everybody involved - as we continue to blossom in our careers, this show will continue to have its legs, for sure.
You’re playing this iconic member of a very iconic group, but are the expectations from the group’s fans are similar to what you experienced playing a comic book character like Miles Morales?
It’s funny. You know, I think it’s just the crowd, honestly. I think people respect me the same way for the art itself, but I think who is what talking about what project or where the influence plays a role…playing ‘The Chef’ comes into play when I’m doing things like walking to a club or a boxing match. It’s weird, it plays a role in more real-life assertive situations. Whereas Spider-Verse plays a role…I just moved into this new condo and I can see the water and stuff, and there’s a dude that owns a boat whose son is a fan of Miles Morales.
They’re eating at the same ramen spot and I’m heading them talking about looking forward to [Across the Spider-Verse] and we started talking off of that. They didn’t know it was me, but it all kind of does this and one thing helps the other. I hope that answers your question. Even Dope. Dope comes into play…I’m thinking off the top of my head, but one of my favourite fighters, Terence Crawford, I’m on the phone with him and he’s saying, ‘You were on The Get Down, right? We were watching that!’ Each thing plays its role for me and it’s interesting how it goes out. I don’t have to buy a boat [Laughs]. ‘I’m Miles Morales, can I have access to your boat?’ [Laughs]
Talking of Miles, Into the Spider-Verse won an Oscar and changed animation forever; what has it been like these past few years to see the legacy of that character and the movie become bigger and bigger? People fell in love with that character thanks to you.
Yeah, I think people…honestly speaking, I think Miles Morales is beyond Shameik Moore. I’m honoured for the opportunity to do it, but I bring myself and it is me for a reason, but I don’t really think that way. It’s not about me. None of this is. I’m just a vessel. It is an honour. All of it is.
You’ve also got Across and Beyond the Spider-Verse on the horizon; have you finished working on those and is there anything you can tease about your journey as Miles in these next two chapters?
Hey man, I’m in Wu-Tang energy at the moment, but what can I share? I can’t really share much, but we’re going into the Spider-Verse and travelling and we’re gonna see a lot of amazing things. I think that first movie was about taking that leap of faith, and this movie is about…anyone can wear the mask, but it’s about how you wear it, the decisions you make, and really owning it. The correlation between Wu-Tang and Spider-Verse really is that it’s about family and standing for something.
Wu-Tang: An American Saga returns to Hulu this Wednesday, February 15.