P-Valley’s final season arrives with 400+ auditions and a subway past
The Starz series returns on December 4, 2026, after a decade-long run.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Shannon Thornton endured hundreds of unsuccessful auditions while living in the Bronx before landing her role in P-Valley. The actress, who plays Keyshawn, said she was tired and discouraged but refused to quit because the regret of stopping would have been worse.
The series is returning for its third and final season on Friday, December 4, on Starz. The show has aired for more than four years and is set to conclude its run this winter. Cast members and creator Katori Hall discussed the finale during an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show.
J. Alphonse Nicholson, who plays Lil Murda, discussed his path from drumming in New York City subway stations to Hollywood. Tamron Hall played footage of his original audition, which featured a freestyle rap performance. Nicholson said he met creator Katori Hall in New York and built his career in the city before moving into television and film.
The actor is now being discussed as a potential Oscar contender for his film If I Go Will They Miss Me. He recalled sitting in a car with a friend who suggested he pursue music. Nicholson said he stuck to acting and drumming, a combination that defined his character. He described himself as the Hannah Montana of P-Valley, blending musical ambition with personal struggle.
Shannon Thornton’s character Keyshawn faces an ongoing battle to leave an abusive relationship with Derek. Thornton said she wanted to portray the character as multidimensional rather than defined solely by her circumstances. She noted that Keyshawn deeply wants to be loved and free, and she battles those two desires throughout the series. Viewers have contacted Thornton to say the storyline held up a mirror to their own lives. Some fans shared that the episodes sparked conversations with their children about domestic violence.
Creator Katori Hall said the writers intentionally depicted the financial and emotional barriers that prevent victims from leaving abusive relationships. Hall conducted extensive research with women working in adult entertainment while developing the show. She acknowledged that viewers sometimes express frustration with Keyshawn’s decisions, asking why she does not leave her partner. Hall said the show will show beat by beat how a woman can break through those barriers. The character is currently incarcerated following the second season finale, and her story continues in the final season.
The show’s final season will air on December 4, 2026. The series has been a long-running fixture on Starz, and the cast expressed gratitude for the patient fan base. Nicholson said New York City means the world to him because it is where he developed his craft. Thornton said she has to see the project through because she has already come so far from the Bronx.
