Ramón Rodriguez on the power of vulnerability and grit in ‘Will Trent': ‘that combination of toughness and tenderness really drew me in'

Yahoo

20-05-2025

Ramón Rodriguez still remembers the first time someone on the street called him "Will."
"I've had people yell out 'We love you, Will!' in the middle of New York traffic," he laughs. "That was the moment it hit me — people are really connecting with this character."
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Rodriguez stars as the titular investigator in ABC's Will Trent, a procedural drama adapted from Karin Slaughter's best-selling crime novels.
"Once I began reading, I was struck by Will's resilience. He had a horrific childhood in the foster system, but he's built this incredible career with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation," says Rodriguez. "He's smart, capable — and deeply scarred. That combination of toughness and tenderness really drew me in.'
Rodriguez's portrayal of Will — a dyslexic agent who hides his vulnerability behind sharp suits — has anchored the show since its 2023 debut. Now renewed for a fourth season, viewers have watched the character slowly evolve, from adopting a Chihuahua named Betty to confronting his painful past.
Disney
'She brings out a side of Will that we don't often see,' Rodriguez says of the pup. 'People come up to me all the time to talk about Betty. They think she's my dog — I have to break it to them she's not. But I adore her.'
Season 3 pushed the character further than ever. In a gut-wrenching episode, Will accidentally shoots and kills a young boy while chasing a suspect — a moment that shatters him emotionally.
'That was probably the biggest setback we've seen him go through,' Rodriguez says. 'It stays with him. We've watched him grow in some areas, like discovering family in Puerto Rico or being less ashamed of his dyslexia. But this incident knocks him off his feet.'
Rodriguez, who also directed the season premiere, says the emotional scenes were a challenge, but one he was uniquely equipped to handle after living in Will's skin for three seasons.
'There's a real benefit to being with a character this long,' he says. 'You develop a kind of shorthand. You just know how he would move, how he speaks, how he thinks. It becomes instinctual.'
This season also introduced new characters — and new romantic possibilities. Gina Rodriguez joined as a potential love interest for Will, while Scott Foley's character brought complications for Will's ex, Angie (played by Erika Christensen). Rodríguez was instrumental in casting Gina, who he's known for years.
"I called the showrunners and said, 'I know the perfect person.' Gina was on the shortlist, and she just crushed it,' he says. 'We needed someone who could bring humor, gravity, and keep Will on his toes. She did all of that.'
Off-screen, Rodriguez and Christensen share a strong creative rapport built on years of friendship. "We'd never worked together before this, but we've known each other a long time," he says. "There's something layered and lived-in about Will and Angie's dynamic, and Erika brings so much depth to it. It's a gift to work with someone who can match you emotionally in every scene."
With Will Trent now confirmed for a fourth season, Rodriguez is already thinking about what's next. "The challenge is how to keep it fresh. How do we keep the cast excited, the fans invested? We've got some ideas,' he teases. "But I don't take this for granted. Not for a second."
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