Jalyn Hall Talks Portraying a Young MLK, Season 6 of 'All American' and More

Jalyn Hall is a talented young brotha that’s going places. Not even 18 years old yet, Hall has already managed to amass an impressive resume of notable credits in the relatively short window he’s been on the scene. For starters, there’s his role of Dillion James on the hit show All American. Then there was the incredibly challenging task of playing Emmett Till in Chinonye Chukwu’s 2022 autobiographical film Till. And most recently, Hall has taken on the role of teenage Martin Luther King Jr. in Nat Geo/Disney+'s Genius: MLK/X—bringing depth and clarity to a period in Dr. King’s life that hasn’t been highlighted much. Unsurprisingly, the brand deals are starting to roll in as well, with Hall recently partnering with Invisalign on a campaign as one of their newest brand ambassadors.

There’s no question whatsoever that Hall is a rising actor looking to make an indelible mark on Hollywood—a sentiment he makes clear multiple times as we’re chatting via Zoom.

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We kick off our chat with the burgeoning actor by discussing Hall’s latest work—portraying MLK Jr. as a teen. It's a role he certainly has done justice to; portraying major historical figures is not an easy task to take on.

“You know it’s interesting because you get to see glimpses of Martin Luther King before the ‘Martin Luther King’ we’re all aware of… when he’s a teenager figuring himself out,” Hall explains—diving into his thought process behind the role. He continues: “Idealistically he’s not the same Martin that marched—he’s the Martin that’s still learning about himself and developing. Showing that is very important because it allows you to connect with a historical legend on a personal level. I did a lot of research ahead of time, and with these types of projects I love talking with the professionals we have on set because it is so important to have credible sources. We don’t need to ‘think,’ we need to have first-hand sources and know for sure how to play the role and what to bring to our characters. No guessing around here!'” 

This isn’t the first time the 17-year-old Hall has had to bust out serious acting chops to portray major figures in history. As we mentioned earlier, Hall also had the tough task of playing Emmett Till. The heartbreaking story of Till is one that unfortunately we’re all familiar with, and if you can get emotional just reading about what happened, those emotions have to be 10 times tougher on the human body and psyche when you're in a position where you would have to actually characterize him in a film.

“I always say playing Till was a very educating experience,” Hall says. “Being well versed in this unfortunate story that has been told to us by our parents—I actually just got my first car yesterday, and I’m saying that just to say that it’s time for me to leave the nest, go out on my own, and be independent. With a story like this, it’s heartbreaking because the parents have to let their children know to be safe and give these instructions like we see Emmett’s mother do in the film.”

Sharing that the experience of playing Till personally allowed him to see things that are going on today in a different light, Hall continues: “Sorry, I’m getting super deep, but it always brings me to this place because there is no story that speaks to the problems of today more accurately than Emmett Till, and you get to also see that not a lot has changed in the way we want or need it to. Going through that experience was an eye opener for me.”

After a brief moment of silence, it becomes especially clear why Hall has been chosen for these types of roles. It’s not just a matter of his captivating acting skills—this young man is far more mature than his age would suggest. Possessing wisdom in that manner is not something that can be taught. It’s intrinsic—something that’s just naturally within you, and it's a skill that’s going to take him a long way in the entertainment industry. “I feel like when I discovered that I wanted to be an actor, it was never anything other than just my dream,” he shares. “I have a longing for it—I know this is what I want to do."

Hall continues: “Sometimes we see pictures of famous people, friends, or even people we look up to within our household kind of pushing an agenda on you. You know what you want, but because you’ve been dealt a certain deck of cards, you just see what you can make shake. That’s not the key! When you know in your heart of hearts that you see something for yourself no matter what position you’re in—anything is possible.”

Knowing that All American fans would be very upset me if we didn’t get at least one question in ahead of season 6, I ask the actor the obligatory question about the upcoming season and portraying Dillion James. “Season 6 is on the way! Dillion James has so much room for character development that it’s crazy—he changes every single season because he’s still growing up," Hall says. "I can’t wait for you guys to see what Dillion brings this time around!”

As Hall establishes himself as a rising star, brand deals are beginning to come in. So we spent a little time discussing his Invisalign partnership. “My teeth have gotten bigger, better, and brighter along with my overall dental health,” Hall says. “I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity, and I’ve actually been wearing Invisalign myself! They’re comfortable, easy to put in and take out, allow you to be yourself and you even feel more comfortable while you’re wearing them.”

As for acting, there are more projects lined up for Mr. Hall coming soon. “It just got announced that I’m going to be a part of a project called Fight Night. I don’t know what all I can say about it just yet, but it’s got a stacked cast and I’m really excited about it," he says. "Read up on the film if you’re interested!”

You know we will...

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