Taraji P. Henson is back on our screens, this time reuniting with some familiar faces for the upcoming Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. The series, set to premiere on September 5, tells the real-life story of Gordon “Chicken Man” Williams, played by Kevin Hart, an Atlanta numbers runner who decides to take a major gamble by hosting a casino-themed house party for the infamous gangster Frank Moten, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, on the night of a pivotal Muhammad Ali fight.
Henson takes on the role of Vivian Thomas, the savvy business partner and confidante of Chicken Man. This character is another powerful addition to Henson’s repertoire of strong, complex women—yet she assures fans that Vivian is unlike any role she’s played before. “Vivian was grounded,” Henson explains. “She grounded Chicken Man. She wasn’t the pop-off. Cookie’s a pop-off,” she says, referencing her iconic role as Cookie Lyon from Empire. In contrast, Vivian is a strategic thinker, the quiet force behind the scenes in a world dominated by men.
Earlier this month, Fight Night had its first screening at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, where Henson expressed her excitement about bringing Vivian to life. The reunion with her co-stars, including Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle, and Terrence Howard, made the experience even more special. Henson previously worked with Hart in Think Like a Man and its sequel, with Cheadle in Talk to Me, and with Howard in both Hustle & Flow and Empire.
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In her role as Vivian, Henson wanted to showcase a different side of herself, one that contrasts sharply with the fiery energy she’s known for in characters like Cookie Lyon or Sharice Waters from Smokin’ Aces. “I always think about how I can make each character unique,” Henson says. “Vivian isn’t just another version of Cookie in bell bottoms; she’s her own person, thoughtful in her actions, and deeply respected in her community.”
Henson’s approach to portraying strong women draws inspiration from her late father, Boris Lawrence Henson, who she describes as someone who “lived out loud” and was “unapologetically himself.” It’s this boldness and authenticity that Henson channels into her performances, making each character she plays memorable and distinct.
As Fight Night prepares to debut, fans are eager to see how this reunion of talent plays out on screen. The combination of Henson’s powerful performance, the dynamic cast, and the gripping true story promises to make Fight Night a must-watch event. For Henson, it’s another chance to showcase her versatility and to introduce the world to Vivian Thomas, a woman who is both the brains and the heart of the operation.
