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1. Francesco, thanks for taking the time to speak with us. How has 2026 been treating you so far?
Amazing. I feel so blessed and grateful to get to do what I love.
2. Wayne recently arrived on Netflix on October 12, introducing the critically acclaimed series to a new audience. For those unfamiliar with the show, can you tell us a little about the story and your character, Reggie?
Wayne is from Boston. His dad passes and he finds out his dad left him this beautiful 1979 Gold Trans Am. Wayne’s birth mother stole it and ran off to Florida with her new man who happens to be Reggie’s father. Reggie was just gifted the Trans Am for his birthday and now Wayne is set on traveling to Ocala, Florida to get his dad’s car back from his deranged stepbrother. Reggie has gold teeth, tattoos of grenades on his hands and a pet alligator named Peanut Butter. Getting the car back from him will not be fun!
3. Wayne has maintained a dedicated following since its original release. What has it been like seeing the series find a new audience on Netflix several years later?
It is the BEST thing in the world. What a gift to have a new audience fall in love with us all over again.
4. What initially attracted you to Wayne, and what stood out to you about Shawn Simmons’ vision for the series?
Shawn Simmons is brilliant. The opening scene of my audition was Reggie watching two pitbulls make love. I knew from the first line that this would be a show to push limits for the actors and the viewers.
5. Reggie was originally intended to appear in just one episode, but your role eventually expanded into a six-episode arc. How did that development come about, and how did it influence your approach to the character?
We just had a lot of fun. I gave them everything I had and that was a larger than life character that proved to be the only real threat to Wayne. I kept playing and they kept writing. It was magic.
6. The series brought together an impressive group of directors, including Steve Pink, Tessa Hoffe, Michael Patrick Jann, Stephanie Laing and Iain B. MacDonald. What was that collaborative experience like, and did any particular moments stand out?
Working with all of these individuals so early on in my career was priceless. A crash course in acting on set with pros! Each one had their own approach but still so collaborative. Episode 10 with Steve Pink really stood out. There were so many moving parts to the end scene and to be able to work together on each important moment, while also selling Reggie getting thrown into desks and through doors, it really was a dance. One of my most memorable days on any set.
7. You worked alongside Mark McKenna, Ciara Bravo and Joshua J. Williams. What was the dynamic like on set, and how did those relationships contribute to your experience filming the series?
They’re all brilliant actors. I worked most with Mark and Ciara but got to meet Joshua; I’m so grateful to have been in that room. Working with great talent always makes the job easier.
8. Wayne has developed a loyal fanbase over the years. Why do you think the series continues to resonate with audiences?
Wayne is not just a great show. It’s a relatable story about love, loss and finding your people. For every character, they are not truly complete. They are missing something. A parent, a lover, a friend. So when you see a cast of various ages go through hell just trying to survive life and it’s wildly entertaining, it’s easy to become obsessed with the outcome. And I think that’s what it is: the fans need to know what happens next to these people.
9. Beyond Wayne, what projects are you currently working on, and what can audiences look forward to next?
I had a movie come out called Vandits that I starred in. It is out now on Amazon and Tubi. Fun movie with some amazing talent. I also just finished a pilot for a show I wrote and starred in. It is my tribute to the town I grew up in, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. It’s called MOBSTAR and it is about the son of a notorious mobster who is next in line to take over the family business. After growing up watching the pain, loss and division organized crime brings, he decides to pursue acting hoping Hollywood will save him. It doesn’t!
10. For viewers discovering Wayne for the first time on Netflix, what do you hope they take away from the series?
I hope they see how much everyone on that show loved working on it. Wayne is a very special project and it shows.
