P-Valley stars share final season plans

J. Alphonse Nicholson and Shannon Thornton sat down with host Tamron Hall on The Tamron Hall Show to discuss the upcoming third and final season of P-Valley. The Starz series, created by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall, returns to viewers on Friday, December 4, 2026.

Nicholson, who plays Lil Murda, traced his career path from drumming in New York City subway stations and Times Square to the screen. Hall noted that Nicholson is now being discussed as a potential Oscar contender for his role in the film If I Go Will They Miss Me. The actor said New York City remains where he built his career and met Hall. He recalled preparing a freestyle performance in a car with a friend named Denzel, who suggested he pursue music. Nicholson said he chose to stick with acting and drumming, a combination that defined his character.

During the interview, Hall played footage from Nicholson's original audition tape. The actor became emotional watching the clip. Hall described the social media reaction to Nicholson's performance, noting that viewers connected deeply with the character. Nicholson joked that Hall knew how to draw out his emotions. He called Lil Murda the Hannah Montana of P-Valley due to the character's musical ambitions and personal struggles.

Thornton, who portrays Keyshawn, also known as Miss Mississippi, shared her own journey to the role. She said she was living in the Bronx and had gone through hundreds of unsuccessful auditions before landing the part. Thornton said she refused to stop trying because the regret of quitting would have been overwhelming. Hall pointed out that Thornton applied bruising makeup to her audition tape to convey the physical abuse her character faced.

Thornton said she wanted to portray Keyshawn as a complex woman rather than a one-note character. She described Keyshawn as someone who deeply wants to be loved but also wants to be free. The actress noted that viewers often contacted her after the show aired, specifically following Season 2, Episode 5. That episode depicted the abuse Keyshawn endured in real time. Thornton said many viewers recognized their own experiences in the storyline. She described the episode as holding up a mirror that allowed people to see the abuse from the outside.

Hall explained that the writers intentionally depicted the financial and emotional barriers that keep victims in abusive relationships. The creator researched the topic with women working in adult entertainment. Hall acknowledged that some viewers expressed frustration with Keyshawn's decisions, particularly her difficulty leaving her partner Derek. Hall said those reactions mirror the judgments survivors face in real life. She said the show aims to show how a woman can break through those barriers step by step.

The show will conclude its run with the third season. A sneak peek showed Keyshawn still incarcerated following the events of the second-season finale. The series has been on the air for more than four years. Hall, Nicholson, and Thornton emphasized the legacy of the show and the connection with its fan base.

The final season of P-Valley is scheduled to premiere on STARZ on December 4, 2026.