All American: Homecoming


All American: Homecoming is an American sports drama television series created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll that premiered on The CW on February 21, 2022. It is a spin-off of All American. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on October 10, 2022. In June 2023, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on July 8, 2024. In June 2024, the series was canceled after three seasons, with its final episode airing on September 30, 2024.

Plot

In this spin-off from All American, Simone Hicks leaves behind her boyfriend Jordan in Los Angeles. She attends Bringston University, a historically Black college in Atlanta, Georgia where she decides to pursue her dreams of being a pro tennis player. Also attending the school is Damon Sims, a fellow freshman who is navigating the college scene to pursue his dream of playing baseball for the university after rejecting an MLB draft to continue to play baseball for Bringston under the guidance of his coach, Marcus Turner. Also included is Amara Patterson, Simone's aunt, who teaches journalism at Bringston.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks
  • Peyton Alex Smith as Damon Sims
  • Kelly Jenrette as Amara Patterson, current executive president at Bringston University
  • Cory Hardrict as Coach Marcus Turner, Bringston University's baseball head coach at the beginning of the series who was once a professional player before having to retire
  • Sylvester Powell as Jessie "J.R." Raymond, Damon's long-time friend and biological brother
  • Camille Hyde as Thea Mays
  • Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins, a student at Bringston University where he serves as executive president's office secretary
  • Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla
  • Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel "Nate" Hardin, Simone and Keisha's non-binary, gender-fluid friend
  • Martin Bobb-Semple as Orlando "Lando" Johnson

Recurring

  • John Marshall Jones as Leonard Shaw, the former baseball head coach at Bringston University
  • Tamberla Perry as Keena Sims
  • Leonard Roberts as Zeke Allen, Keisha's father and former executive president at Bringston University
  • Derek Rivera as Santiago Reyes
  • Sabrina Revelle as Coach Elaine Loni, Bringston University's tennis head coach
  • Robert Bailey Jr. as Ralph Wells
  • Iyana Halley as Wilinda
  • Joe Holt as Jessie, J.R.'s father and Damon's biological father
  • Crystal Lee Brown as Celine, J.R.'s mother and Damon's biological mother
  • Shelli Boone as Tina Hicks, Simone's mother
  • Heather Lynn Harris as Gabrielle, an engineering student at Bringston University who becomes JR's girlfriend
  • Renee Harrison as Aqueelah
  • Jamad Mays as Rome
  • Diahnna Nicole Baxter as Dr. Pace
  • Taylor Polidore as Tootie
  • Blake Brewer as Nico Logan, the student council president at Bringston University before being replaced by Nate, his ex-boyfriend
  • Alana Kay Bright as Melody
  • Jaalen Best and Kyler Pettis as Ryan Craig
  • Mychala Lee as Eva
  • Cameron Elie as Noah, Marcus' 14-year-old son whom he recently learned he had

Special guest stars

Notable guest stars

Production

Development

On December 18, 2020, it was announced that a backdoor pilot for an All American spin-off centered on the character Simone Hicks was in early development at The CW, with Geffri Maya, who portrayed Simone, reprising her role. On February 1, 2021, The CW gave the spin-off a pilot order and titled it as All American: Homecoming. On May 24, 2021, All American: Homecoming was picked up to series with Nkechi Okoro Carroll serving both as creator and executive producer, the latter alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, and Robbie Rogers. The production companies involved with the series are Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The backdoor pilot, written by Carroll and directed by Michael Schultz, aired on July 5, 2021, as part of the third season of All American. On May 12, 2022, The CW renewed the series for a second season. On June 12, 2023, The CW renewed the series for a third season after reaching an agreement with Warner Bros. Television to reduce its budget. On February 15, 2024, Brad Schwartz, The CW President of Entertainment, stated that the third season would consist of 13 episodes. On June 5, 2024, The CW canceled the series after three seasons. Deadline Hollywood reported that demands by The CW for lower licensing fees, low number of overall viewers and Warner Bros. TV's deal with Netflix for the show not including funding for a fourth season, proved as impediments in its renewal.

Casting

On March 29, 2021, it was reported that Peyton Alex Smith, Cory Hardrict, Kelly Jenrette, Sylvester Powell, Netta Walker, and Camille Hyde were cast to star in the series. On December 16, 2021, it was announced that Mitchell Edwards, who portrayed recurring character Cam Watkins on All American, was set to reprise his role in the spin-off as a series regular, while Rhoyle Ivy King was cast in a recurring capacity. On January 28, 2022, it was reported that Tamberla Perry had joined the cast in a recurring role. On June 21, 2022, Rhoyle Ivy King was promoted to series regular for the second season. On July 6, 2023, it was announced that Peyton Alex Smith and Kelly Jenrette had been cut as series regulars ahead of the third season as part of budget cuts, with Jenrette being demoted to recurring status. On February 14, 2024, it was announced that Martin Bobb-Semple had been promoted to series regular for the third season. On June 24, 2024, it was reported that Cameron Elie had joined the cast in a recurring capacity for the third season.

Release

Broadcast

All American: Homecoming premiered on The CW on February 21, 2022. The second season premiered on October 10, 2022. The third and final season premiered on July 8, 2024.

Streaming

The first season of All American: Homecoming was added to Netflix on July 12, 2022, in the United States. The second season is available to stream on Netflix starting on April 11, 2023. The third and final season is available to stream on Netflix starting on October 15, 2024.