One of my favorite things about “Dark Matter” Season 2 is getting to know Leighton Vance beyond the billionaire CEO we met in Season 1.
I recently caught up with Dayo Okeniyi to talk about the new season of the Apple TV series. We got into Leighton’s evolution, the challenge of playing multiple versions of the character, and why we may have judged this man a little too quickly.
This was also a full-circle moment for me.
Many moons ago, I traveled to Los Angeles to meet a group of fresh-faced Black actors making their mark in Hollywood, and Dayo was one of them. So, when my daughter and I watched the “Dark Matter” premiere and he appeared on screen, I proudly told her, “Oh, baby, I know him.”
She wasn’t buying it.
Thankfully, I keep receipts!
Dayo Okeniyi Breaks Down “Dark Matter”
Y’all know I love “Dark Matter,” but this show will have you pausing and rewinding because you looked away for 30 seconds and lost the multiverse plot.
So, I asked Dayo to give me the simplest explanation possible.
“Dark Matter is just, what would your life be like if you had made different decisions,” he told me.
Then there’s Leighton, who sees the box and immediately recognizes its potential.
“This technology that allows people to do that, I need to monetize that,” Dayo joked.
See? No whiteboard required.
There’s More To Leighton Vance
Dayo is excited for viewers to see more of Leighton’s humanity this season.
He pointed out that Season 1 largely followed Jason Dessen’s perspective. If Jason didn’t trust someone, chances are we didn’t either.
Season 2 muddies those waters by showing us what drives Leighton beyond money and power.
Legacy is a huge part of it.
Leighton inherited Velocity Labs, which comes with the pressure of proving he can carry forward what was handed to him. We’re also learning that his original vision for the box wasn’t entirely about profit. He saw the possibility of finding worlds with solutions to disease, war, climate change, and other problems.
That doesn’t excuse everything Leighton has done, but it certainly makes him more interesting.
Dayo Okeniyi On Playing Multiple Leightons
The multiverse is also giving Dayo one heck of an acting assignment.
Season 2 introduces different Leightons shaped by different experiences, and you can actually see the difference between them. Their energy, mannerisms, and presence change enough to make each one feel like a different man.
Dayo also gave major props to his acting double, Yao, who works opposite him during those scenes. They learn both sides of the performance and switch places when necessary.
“He really became my brother on this role,” Dayo shared.
Dayo joked that after everything he’s doing on “Dark Matter,” he shouldn’t have to audition anymore.
I support this message.
And Then There Are The Fashions
Of course, I had to talk about Leighton’s wardrobe because somebody over there is cooking.
“You can’t fake being a billionaire,” Dayo told me.
He also dropped a little tea: Pay attention to color.
According to Dayo, the colors worn by the different Leightons are telling another story throughout the season.
So, now I’m studying this man’s clothes like they’re evidence.
Between the deeper character work and multiple versions of Leighton, Dayo Okeniyi is getting plenty of room to flex this season.
And apparently, we haven’t seen everything yet.
“Dark Matter” Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV.
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