Tyler James Williams Wants Solange Knowles To Play His Cousin In ‘Abbott Elementary’

Tyler James Williams shares his choice for a familial casting in Abbott Elementary. Speaking with PEOPLE, the 31-year-old named Solange Knowles as his pick of his on-screen relative. In the series, the actor has earned three Emmy nominations for his portrayal of first-grade teacher Gregory Eddie. 

“I would love to see Solange [Knowles] as a cousin. I feel like we look alike,” Williams detailed to the outlet. “It’s like us and then my dad is Orlando [Jones]. Yeah, I think Solange would be great. Just add a family member.”

He continued to detail why his role is impactful beyond the comedy series.

It’s the last day of school! Ahead of summer vacation, Janine throws the perfect end-of-year party for her colleagues and friends, taking all their interests into consideration.

Disney/Gilles Mingasson)

“The overall goal for me here is to show not only Black male educators in a certain light, but then also Black men in a certain light that are allowed to be emotional and have full emotional spectrums and then also be in love,” detailed Williams.

“It’s one of the most important things I’ve ever done in my career is showing this, especially with the platform that we have.”

The critically acclaimed Abbott Elementary, created by Quinta Brunson, returns with new episodes in a fourth installment in October 2024 as the season three finale aired in May. The third season of the Emmy-winning series reached an average of 2.8 million viewers according to Nielsen.

“I think it’s just remarkable that so many people are so invested in these two dork teachers in Philadelphia,” shared Brunson as a guest of Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast. 

“I find it to be really, really endearing that even even peers of mine in the industry have asked me seriously, ‘So, what’s going on with Gregory and Janine next season?’ Just think it’s fantastic that they’re very invested. And that’s something that Randall was really instrumental in creating.”