Produced in the Bi-State: Isaac Keys discusses ‘Power Book IV: Force’ and growing up in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Missouri and Illinois are best known for their rich culture, vital historical impacts, eclectic range of foods, and, of course, their sports and entertainment scenes.

On Produced in the Bi-State, we’re spotlighting actors and musicians native to the area to discuss how growing up locally molded them into who they are today, their favorite places to hit when they return, and what fans can expect from their projects.

For our first edition, we spoke with St. Louis native Isaac Keys. Keys is an actor and former professional football player who began his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2001. A few years after retiring from football, Keys jumped to acting, finding a new ion he had never envisioned.

Now, Keys portrays the character Diamond on the hit Starz series “Power Book IV: Force.” On hiatus since the Season 2 finale in November 2023, fans have been patiently awaiting the series’ return, a sentiment Keys holds as well.

“I apologize to the fans for us taking so long to get Season Three out there, but I assure you that it is already in the tank,” Keys said. “Starz will make sure that we get that out to you all because I’m excited just as much as you all are.”

At the end of Season 2, Keys’ character, Diamond, faced several hurdles. His brother, Jenard, is working with another gang leader, Shanti, to conspire against him and take over the CBI from the inside.

Meanwhile, things don’t end well between him and his partner, Tommy, as a rift continues to brew. The series will expand upon this plot point in the third and final season.

“In the business Diamond is in, it’s like the den of thieves. There’s no honor, but Diamond and Tommy have forged a relationship that’s doing well for them. They’re starting to achieve some of their goals of taking over Chicago.”

“But, you know, blood is sometimes thicker than water, and it’s always that conflict that, you know, you can’t choose your family . You will always love them so much, and sometimes, they’re the first to bring you down. But I’ll tell you right now, it’s so exciting. I’m so excited about this season because I think the fans are gonna love it,” Keys continued.

According to Keys, the high-octane action and emotionally complex scenarios start strong at the beginning of Season 3 and only continue to amp up as the season unfolds.

“Fans of Diamond and fans of the show are going to be in a place where they’re not going to be able to sit down too long because the excitement and emotional strings that are going to be pulled on are going to be so strong that it’s going to keep you out of the seat. It will keep you wanting to see what’s happening in the next episode,” Keys said.

Despite having made guest appearances on series like “The Oath,” “The Rookie,” and “Will Trent,” Diamond is his first role as a co-lead. Keys feels the impact of that exponentially, as being connected with the community and his fans is something he holds dear.

Not only will Keys miss connecting with fans on a deeper basis with “Power Book IV: Force,” but he also says being around his fellow cast regularly is a luxury he will undoubtedly feel a loss about.

“We really have an amazing cast, where not only do we challenge each other in the workplace, but we like to go out, hang out, and have dinner or different experiences with each other. Chicago is an amazing city, and we enjoyed that. So I’ll miss that part and just being a part of this universe,” Keys said.

Growing up, Keys attended Hazelwood Central High School in North County, which instilled in him a work ethic he says he wouldn’t typically get anywhere else.

“It’s a blue-collar city; it’s a city where your direction is to be able to know and be the best that you possibly can be. I had strong parents who always instilled in me that work ethic, that you have to do twice as well as other people, and go after your dreams, go after what you want.”

“I employ everyone to take advantage of going after your dreams. I love the city and how it has helped build me up. I go back often to make sure that I stay strong with those roots, but also to continue to inspire others and ensure that they continue to go after their dreams,” Keys continued.

While Keys might be making a successful run in the entertainment industry now, the thought of this being his life never entered his mind until after his NFL career concluded.

“I took an acting class in high school as an elective just to do something different. We take electives because we don’t want to take some of those main courses at the time, but I didn’t think about what it would lead me to later.”

St. Louis is best known for being a sports city, but nowadays, more and more people are beginning to recognize it as the entertainment hub it is. Keys says having that pushed more while growing up would’ve opened his eyes to the wide range of career options he had.

“So many strong actors have come out of St Louis, and we should do better to ensure we continue allowing those people to be named and exposed. Like in the league, if you see it, you can achieve it,” Keys said.

“When I didn’t know what I was gonna do after football, acting somehow came to the surface. I was trying so many different things. I was trying to figure out what I was getting ready to do in the next chapter of my life when acting came out, and it probably saved me from a lot of different things.”

Tune in on Saturday mornings and follow First Alert 4 to watch additional Produced in the Bi-State episodes and learn in-depth behind-the-scenes information about your favorite actors and musicians.

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