‘We Didn’t Know We Were Working on GTA 5’: How Shawn Fonteno Almost QUIT the Role of Franklin Clinton

As a die-hard GTA fan, I can’t help but feel awe and admiration for Shawn Fonteno, the man behind Franklin Clinton. His life story is as thrilling as any Grand Theft Auto heist, filled with danger, drama, and an unlikely twist into fame.

Grand Theft Auto V, a game renowned for its massive sales, has left an unforgettable mark on the gaming industry over the past decade. Even after more than ten years, the characters from this game continue to symbolize the brand, showing up in online streams and real-life events that honor the series and the triumph of GTA V.

Lately, Shawn Fonteno, who plays Franklin Clinton in GTA 5’s main cast, recently discussed behind-the-scenes details about Grand Theft Auto 5 during a live stream with Kai Cenat. In one part of the conversation, Fonteno shared that he nearly left the role during production itself.

‘I Was Facing Two Cases’

During Kai Cenat’s recent live broadcast, Shawn Fonteno shared that his characterization of Franklin Clinton in GTA 5 bore a strong resemblance to his personal life. Prior to being cast by Rockstar Games, he was deeply involved in gang activities, had been wounded multiple times, and was on the verge of a significant prison sentence. However, Rockstar Games rescued him from this predicament by giving him the opportunity to portray Franklin Clinton.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing though.

During the initial stages of the game’s creation, Fonteno contemplated leaving the project since everyone involved seemed unaware they were developing Grand Theft Auto. However, at a critical juncture, the game’s director intervened and encouraged him to have faith in the development process; otherwise, things might have turned out quite differently.

In our disagreement, I decided to leave. I exclaimed, “I’m tired of this, remove this burden from me.” They persuaded me to stay and the manager said, “Just have faith in me.” Initially, it was never disclosed that we were working on Grand Theft Auto 5; they led us to believe it was a different game called Paradise, due to their secrecy.
We didn’t know we were working on GTA 5 until a whole year later.

He revealed that his character’s name, to maintain the cover, was ‘DaShawn.’

In the course of Kai Cenat’s live stream, Shawn Fonteno phoned his cousin, Young Maylay (who is famously the voice of Carl Johnson in San Andreas), and asked him to recite some of his most memorable lines from the game. This moment was particularly exciting for GTA enthusiasts, as Maylay seldom participates in interviews or anything related to San Andreas, believing that after 20 years, the game has been extensively discussed.

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