‘Nemesis’ Star Y’lan Noel Would Be Open To A Team-Up Between Coltrane Wilder & Isaiah Stiles In A Potential Season 2: “I’d Be Interested In That Scenario”

Y’lan Noel is no stranger to being a part of a successful series. After his breakout role in Insecure, Noel has worked steadily in flashy starring roles and delivered grounded performances. Needless to say, he was the perfect choice to play Coltrane Wilder, the antagonist—or protagonist, depending on who you ask—in Nemesis, the gripping crime drama from Power creator Courtney A. Kemp and her partner, Tani Morale.

An expert criminal who fronts as an upstanding member of the community along with his beautiful wife, Ebony (Cleopatra Coleman), Wilder runs a crew that pulls off high-stakes robberies. After a job gets messy, they attract the attention of Isaiah Stiles (Matthew Law), who doggedly pursues the men to the point of obsession. As Stiles gets closer to Wilder, the two men stay one step ahead of the each other in a deadly game of wits.

Since its debut on May 14, Nemesis has remained among Netflix’s top TV shows , a fact that has delighted Noel, the cast, and the creative team. “When Courtney and Tani set out to make this series, they wanted people to see it,” said Noel. “To be able to connect with people on a large scale like this is really a dream.” Noel has seen the response and love from audiences firsthand. “I was on a plane coming to New York and people were fist bumping me as I walked down the aisle,” recalled Noel. “It’s means a lot that people connected to the humanity of the character.”

Noel recently dropped by the DECIDER studio to talk about the series, share his hopes for a potential Season 2, and reveal what it was like to be dressed as Nino Brown in an episode directed by New Jack City star Mario Peebles.

DECIDER: Nemesis has been in the top 5 shows on Netflix since its debut on the platform. What has the success meant to you?

Y’LAN NOEL: When Courtney and Tani set out to make this series, they wanted people to see it [laughs]. The whole point of storytelling is to connect. So, to be able to connect with people on a large scale like this is really a dream.

You were hanging with Jay Ellis when he made a video to celebrate Nemesis being the #1 show on Netflix. I loved seeing that support! Have you heard from any other of your Insecure co-stars?

I have. Insecure was my introduction to being a professional actor in in Los Angeles, and I was surprised by how everybody was so Team Us. It was very much like a family unit on set. Even after Insecure, we hang out all the time. We kick it. We are on a group chat with each other, etc. I go to Issa’s restaurant and eat and celebrate all her accomplishments as much as possible. They always show love.

Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

Obviously, Courtney A. Kemp is prolific creator, and Nemesis is her first project with her partner, Tani Morale. What was it like working with them?

Incredible. These are two people who are incredibly passionate about storytelling. They are like yin and yang. Tani knows the heist genre exceptionally well. Courtney has this very nurturing element about her that allows us to do our best work. Obviously, she’s a legend to my family. They are more interested in this project than they’ve ever been in anything I’ve done. It has a lot to do with Courtney Kemp.

Did you ever see their creative process in action?

I think their superpower is how they problem solve. They have very different opinions, but they trust one another. So, for instance, in the very last scene—which is kind of controversial—there was a line that Coltrane was supposed to say to Isaiah Stiles that Courtney and Tani were butting heads about. They were like: “okay, you think that way? I think this way. Let’s just let him do it three different ways, and then we decide.” It wasn’t until I watched the final cut that I saw what they ended up deciding on. Very collaborative, those two.

Yes, the ending is quite controversial! As an actor, does it make you feel good to have been involved with a project that elicits so much conversation?

100%. My dream is to connect with as many people as possible in the world. In fact, I was on a plane coming to New York, and people were fist bumping me as I walked down the aisle. It was really cool, but y’all do know I play like a criminal, right? [Laughs] It means a lot that people connected to the humanity of the character. Yesterday, I was at a show, and a guy came up and FaceTime’d his grandma. He was like, “She loves Coltrane!” When I saw her on the screen, her face lit up. That was really cool.

Tani said recently that Nemesis is a Rorschach test. Whoever you root for will say a lot about you as a person. How would you describe viewers who find themselves on Coltrane’s side?

People who find themselves on the side of Coltrane are not willing to be thrown to the side. Maybe they are people who are rebels with a cause or without a cause. People who are incredibly loyal to their family and to their friends. That’s the positive stuff. There’s also a level of obsession with Coltrane that I connect with personally. He’s very focused on becoming the best that he can be in what he does. Unfortunately, crime just so happens to be what he does [laughs].

You have a great foil in these series in Matthew Law’s Isaiah Stiles, despite the fact that you two don’t share many scenes together. Did that separation help keep the tension fresh between your characters?

Despite all they have faced together, Coltrane and Ebony are absolutely devoted to each other. Can you talk to me about crafting that relationship with Cleopatra Coleman?

She’s a blessing. You’re only as good as the person opposite you. Cleopatra and I have worked together before, so we have a certain level of trust and admiration for one another. That was easy to mirror between Ebony and Coltrane. It’s fun when you’re able to show up for a scene and know there’s going to be a level of ease because the other person will be listening and responding. She’s definitely one of my favorite people to work with, if not my favorite person, to be honest.

Saeed-Adyani/Netflix

You two kick off the series with a tribute to New Jack City in an episode directed by Mario Van Peebles. How surreal was that moment?

I don’t have to say much about New Jack City. It’s iconic and so is Mario Van Peebles. To have him as the person in my ear before hopping into the scene where I’m dressed up as Nino Brown—who Wesley Snipes so exquisitely played —was very surreal and very meta at the same time. When I first started out as an actor, people always would say, “you’re like a young Wesley Snipes.” So, to hear some of the behind-the-scenes stories about him from Mario Van Peebles was really cool, man. One of those once in a lifetime moments.

I do have to talk about the shootout in Episode 6. I think every actor wishes they could have been in the famous shootout in Heat, and you got to live out that moment. What was the most challenging part about filming that sequence?

That’s one of those dream moments that you have as a kid when you play cops and robbers. I got to do it on this big set with many, many moving parts. I mean, we shut down Century City! I was a part of that particular scene for two days or so, and the only challenging part about it was that we had to look believable. My crew wants everybody to know that it was us the entire time under the masks. We had to learn how to work semiautomatic and automatic weapons. It was a lot of fun.

Obviously, the world is clamoring for a second season. What are your desires for Coltrane in another chapter?

If there’s another chapter, I want Coltrane to remain faithful to his wife and stay loyal to his crew. He’s still got to have some tragic flaws, otherwise there won’t be a TV show. So, I want him to stay focused. We’re rooting for him.

I saw a fan theory that predicted a potential season 2 team up between Coltrane and Isaiah to take down that cartel boss. What do you think about that?

Listen, if Isaiah Stiles thinks he could keep up with Coltrane Wilder… that could be interesting. They definitely have some qualities that complement one another. So, I’d be interested in that scenario. Though, I have full faith in Tani and Courtney to come up with something great. Fortunately, I’m an actor, so I get to show up with that hard work already done for me. I trust them 100% to expand the world of Coltrane Wilder, if it’s meant to be.

Nemesis Season 1 is streaming on Netflix.