Curtis, you were a driving force in getting this show made, but what drove you to play Cassius?

CURTIS JACKSON I wanted to make sure I was playing something that had some substance to it. And we came up with a character who’s been in jail longer than he’s been in the free world. So while he’s incarcerated, he develops a comfort with being institutionalized. There’s a portion of the guys in prison, they cut themselves off from the free world, and because of that, the time goes by way faster — you know, when you’re head’s not constantly outside the jail.

Sort of the opposite of Aaron, the character based on Isaac, right?

JACKSON Exactly, the polar opposite. And those are the most dangerous people. Because the guards are looking forward to going home. The inmates are looking forward to going home. And Cassius isn’t interested in going home, because he’s never felt that power in the real world. I’ve known people who went away for two to four, and turned it into seven. Once they got into jail, they got into being in jail. And they build these reputations from jail that bleed off into the street — because they’ve become someone that they didn’t become through the street.

How does it feel seeing this part of your life represented onscreen, Isaac?

ISAAC WRIGHT JR. There was a moment of discomfort, but that part has passed. Sometimes when a thing hits you, it hits you in levels, and the reality of what’s happening has been a progression for me. There was a moment when we were onstage, I think we were at the premiere, and I leaned over to 50 and said: “50, man. Look what the [expletive] you did!” And the reason I said that is because I don’t even think he understands what this show is going to do in terms of social impact.

What do you hope that impact will be?

WRIGHT You know, 50 has said a couple of times that my story is singular. But what that means to me, personally, is that I left thousands of people behind. So for me, the show is a beacon of hope and inspiration that will allow me to touch people now that I’m not able to touch.