Giancarlo Esposito Reveals Why He Replaced Andre Braugher on The Residence

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In the 2025 TV lineup, Shonda Rhimes introduces a new series titled “The Residence“. Uzo Aduba plays Cordelia Cupp, a meticulous and avian-loving police consultant, who is summoned to the White House to scrutinize the homicide of Chief Usher A.B. Wynter. The accomplished Giancarlo Esposito takes on the role of the disgraced staffer, a change from the initial casting. Andre Braugher was initially chosen for the part of Wynter, but Esposito openly discussed the challenging choice to replace Braugher after his unfortunate passing.

Supporters were deeply saddened upon learning that Andre Braugher passed away in December 2023, following a struggle with lung cancer. This talented actor, who honed his craft at Juilliard, was renowned for both intense dramatic performances and humorous roles, such as the adored Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito, with whom Braugher had collaborated for years, expressed to the AP that their bond played a significant role in his decision to assume the role in The Residence, stating: “The thought of our shared connection was always present as I contemplated accepting this role.

Originally, Andre Braugher portrayed the character, having filmed numerous episodes before production halted due to the pandemic and a strike. I had a profound respect for him, not only as a talented actor but also as one of the finest performers in both drama and comedy. I had the pleasure of collaborating with him on Homicide: Life on the Street, and we shared a history in New York theater. We even met again when I watched him in the film Glory, where his acting left an indelible impression on me – I found his performance to be the heart of that movie.

It’s clear that the actor from Better Call Saul deeply respects Andre Braugher, so it must have been challenging for him and the rest of The Residence cast to re-film Braugher’s scenes after the production resumed following its halt.

Giancarlo Esposito didn’t make his choice casually, and he shared the thought process that led him to understand he could pay tribute to his friend by delivering a powerful performance. He added:

“I didn’t take this decision lightly, and it was through careful contemplation that I realized I could honor my friend by giving an exceptional performance.

In my view, replacing someone as renowned as he was, who I had a personal bond with, was a challenging choice. How could I set aside our friendship, memories, and everything else, to portray the character the way I thought it should be? But then I recognized that Andre was still present in spirit, and if I could honor him by playing this role, everything would work out. And that’s exactly what happened.

Giancarlo Esposito has been keeping busy lately, with several roles lined up for the 2025 movie season and appearances on shows such as The Boys and The Mandalorian. Despite joining a new Netflix series later than expected, he seamlessly integrated himself among notable actors like Uzo Aduba, Susan Kelechi Watson (following her brief tenure on Will Trent), Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Randall Park, Taran Killam, and many others.

Stream The Residence, found on Netflix, primarily revolves around a fictional murder mystery. However, Shonda Rhimes drew inspiration from the book The Residence: Peeking Behind the Scenes at the White House by Kate Andersen Brower. This book serves as an insider’s perspective into the White House, revealing the secretive day-to-day operations through interviews with actual staff members such as maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen, and others who have worked there.

Although losing Andre Braugher was undoubtedly tough, I’m delighted that Giancarlo Esposito is paying tribute to him through his character. In my opinion, Wynter is under capable hands.

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2025-03-26 13:37