CAA Signs ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ & ‘Homecoming’ Star Stephan James

EXCLUSIVE: Breakout actor Stephan James has just signed with CAA. James is currently starring in the Barry Jenkins-directed If Beale Street Could Talk, playing Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt, the young man whose incarceration for a crime he didn’t commit propels the narrative. He also stars in Sam Esmail’s Amazon Prime Video series Homecoming, and last week received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance opposite Julia Roberts. Beale Street has been nominated for three Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture — Drama.

James got that role after starring as 1936 Olympic gold medalist sprinter Jesse James in Race, and his past turns include Selma, the TV series Shots Fired, and first gaining notice for the teen series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He is next booked to star in the STX action-thriller 17 Bridges.

I met James recently at Deadline’s New York Contenders event, and it was easy to walk away saying, this young man from Toronto has major star potential. You can hear more from the amiable actor in Deadline’s New Hollywood podcast.

He had been repped at Innovative Artists. He continues to be represented by manager Norbert Abrams at Noble Caplan Abrams and attorney Jeff Bernstein of Jackoway Tyerman.