The Residenceis dedicated to Andre Braugher for an emotional reason. Netflix’s new Shondaland series revolves around a murder mystery that takes place after the body of White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito) is found.The Residence’s castis led byOrange is the New Blackstar Uzo Aduba, who plays the eccentric and bird-loving detective Cordelia Cupp. As a consultant for the Metropolitan Police Department, Cupp is brought in to solve the case of who murdered Wynter.
As the season progresses and as Cupp discovers more clues, thefull timeline of Wynter’s murderis gradually revealed. Since its debut,The Residence’s reviewshave been positive, with the show garnering praise for Aduba’s performance and for the story’s effective balance of mystery and comedy. WhileBrooklyn Nine-Nine’s Braugher does not appear in the series, the end of the show features a title card that says"In Memory of Andre Braugher,“as he was vital toThe Residence.
Andre Braugher Was Originally Cast To Play A.B. Wynter & Was In The Middle Of Production When He Died
Production Was Paused Due To The 2023 Strikes
WhenThe Residence’s cast was first announced in early 2023, it included Braugher, who had been chosen to play Wynter. The show went into production, and Braugher filmed his scenes as Wynter for four out of the eight episodes. Production was halted due to the WGA andSAG-AFTRA strikesthat took place in 2023, and after the strikes ended, production was planned to resume in January 2024. However, the show was tragicallyunable to continue with Braugher after he passed away from lung cancer at the age of 61 in December 2023.
Where Was The Residence Filmed? Netflix Murder Mystery’s Filming Locations Explained
The Residence’s impressive White House setting may leave viewers wondering where the show was actually filmed, and the reality is very exciting.
Even though Braugher had filmed his scenes for half of the episodes, the decision was made to recast the role of Wynter and to reshoot his scenes. With the entire show revolving around solving the murder of Wynter, and the character being featured in numerous flashbacks showing what happened the night of his death, recasting and reshooting was the only feasible decision to make. A point of honoring Braugher is made by including the dedication duringThe Residence’s ending.
Giancarlo Esposito Accepted The Role Of A.B. Wynter In The Residence To Honor Andre Braugher
He Wanted To Finish His Friend’s Work
While speaking withShondaland, Esposito shared that accepting the role of Wynter was not an easy decision for him, with Braugher being his friend and someone he admired. He ultimately decided to take the role for two reasons, the first being that hewanted to honor Braugher and finish the work that his friend started. The other reason was because Wynter’s dedication to service resonated with him, and he felt the best way he could serve was to play the character. Check out Esposito’s comments below:
I looked at it as a way of honoring Andre and what he gave to us. Coming in to this project and finishing it [was a way of showing how] I deeply respected him and honored him.
This is what I’m being called to do. To stand up and champion this piece. We’re in a business, and this is why I love Shonda, you know? You’re in a business where you rely on people who have that creative acumen that matches yours. You hire them because they’re the best to do the job.
There was a moment where I’d go, “Oh, there’s Andre!’“and I had to go, “No, he’s not a ghost; he’s part of me.” He did visit with me. He was a friend. But it was particularly very odd to have to fill that space with someone that you honored and enjoyed and miss.
Recasts are an ingrained part of the entertainment industry, and they happen with many movies and television shows. That being said, it is a unique and emotional experience for an actor to step into a role previously played by a friend, who had already filmed an extensive number of scenes before passing away. Esposito tackled this challenge as gracefully as possible and did justice to the role that had been written for Braugher. Without Braugher,The Residencewould not be what it is, which makes the dedication at the end all the more meaningful.
