MAYANS M.C. is a new FX series co-created by Kurt Sutter and Elgin James, centered on a Latino motorcycle club of Southern California, introduced years ago in the celebrated show “Sons of Anarchy.”

The ensamble cast includes talents like Edward James Olmos, Clayton Cardenas, Sarah Bolger, Carla Baratta, Antonio Jaramillo, Richard Cabral, Danny Pino, Emilio Rivera, Tony Plana and Ada Maris.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mexican-American actor JD Pardo, who plays one of the main characters in this story, Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes. Enjoy our exclusive interview with the thoughtful artist below, and don’t miss the MAYANS M.C. premiere, Tuesday September 4 at 10PM ET/PT on FX.

MAYANS M.C. — Pictured: JD Pardo as EZ Reyes. CR: James Minchin/FX

How does it feel to be one of the protagonists of a big TV series that features so much Latino talent?

It is very special to me. But it is also a responsibility, one that I never had before, and I one that I wasn’t really looking for. As an actor, as an artist, I’ve always been drowned to different stories. When I looked at “Mayans” I didn’t think “Oh, this will make waves in the Latino community!” I just was a fan of Kurt Sutter’s “Sons of Anarchy,” and I really wanted to be part of this. Having this platform while Latinos keeps being underrepresented in Hollywood is something that I appreciate and take very seriously. I am blessed to be in this position.

Your character, EZ, is a good guy that is trying to fit into this dangerous world. How was it for you to portray his internal conflict?

What I love about this character is that we are following someone that was never supposed to be part of the club life, nor the crime world. He was a very smart kid going to school, being the golden boy of his community, when a tragic event landed him in prison. In many crime-related shows, you see people that get out of prison and it is just like another day. I was interested in showing a young man that was completely changed by that experience. It’s like the military: you can’t go through that for 10 years and not walk differently. EZ has changed physically, mentally, and emotionally. He is now living in shame, haunted by the mistake that he made, and the memory of the life that he used to have. It is fun for me to play a complex character like that, and for the audience to follow his journey.

MAYANS M.C. — Pictured: Emilio Rivera as Marcus Alvarez. CR: James Minchin/FX

I had the chance to talk to Emilio Rivera years ago for “Sons of Anarchy.” He told me that there was no time for mistakes, and that everyone had to show up prepared. Can you talk about that, and working with someone like Emilio?

I feel that Emilio is underappreciated in this business. Coming from where he has come, his growth …it’s incredible! He was in “Sons of Anarchy” the whole time, so for us is like having a piece of that legendary show. And he was right: if you show up and you are not ready, we are going to let you know. We are not here to cuddle each other, we are here to keep each other honest. We want to do great work and honor the cast and fans of “Sons of Anarchy,” because “Mayans” is here due to that success.

The story is very much character-driven, but you also get the chance to explore very relevant social topics. Can you talk about the bigger issues being tackled?

What makes this show very compelling is that it is grounded in reality. We are telling the story of the Mayans’ club life at the border, their relationship with the Cartel and Mexico. Kurt Sutter has the ability of creating something real, without necessarily making a statement. We are not trying to start a debate, nor exploit what is going on in real life for entertainment value. It is about enriching the story and the atmosphere of the world that these characters inhabit. We are living in times where the narrative, and the perception that you get from the media, is so black and white. “You are either on this side, or on that side!” We have worked with Mexican and American crews on both sides of the border, and all of them have been great to us. For me, it has been a reminder that you can’t believe everything that you hear, and that you have to experience things for yourself.

MAYANS M.C. — Pictured: Edward James Olmos as Felipe Reyes, JD Pardo as EZ Reyes. CR: Prashant Gupta/FX

Talking about legends, Edward James Olmos plays your character’s dad. I assume that spending time with him on set has to be a very enriching experience. Right?

It is! I’ve always admired the legends in this business: Brando, Pacino, De Niro, the late Robin Williams …I feel that time is running out and that I want to work with all of them. There are so many platforms now, and ways of becoming famous, that sometimes I feel that the respect for the craft is lost. It is a huge blessing for me to work with one of those legends. He tells me stories every day, and it doesn’t matter how many times he tells me the same story, I am not going to interrupt him because he is Edward James Olmos! [Laughs]

After spending so much time in the skin of this character, do you feel like a true bad-ass when you look yourself in the mirror?

Actually, I had to do something the other day with a photographer. He was saying some stuff that I didn’t think were funny. I was getting irritated and I was about to tell him “Hey, you are not being funny!” I told my manager about that, and she said “Yeah, I think that you may want to let this EZ character go” [Laughs] What I always say is “If I don’t believe it, how can I expect you to believe it?” You want to see me become that character, and then you want me to turn it off, and that’s very difficult. It takes time, it is a process, but if you surround yourself with good people that care about you, they will remind you that you are not actually part of a motorcycle club.

The 10-episode first season will premiere on September 4 at 10PM ET/PT on FX.

 

Set in a post-Jax Teller world, is fresh out of prison and a prospect in the Mayans M.C. charter on the Cali/Mexi border. Now, EZ must carve out his new identity in a town where he was once the golden boy with the American Dream in his grasp.