Motor City actor talks new horror film, chance for another season of 'Detroiters'

To “Detroiters” fans, Shawntay Dalon always will be Chrissy, the Chrysler assembly line worker who is the no-nonsense sister of Sam Duvet and supportive wife of Tim Cramblin.

The Motor City actress, who's now based in Los Angeles, has moved on to the next chapter of her career, which includes a new role in a planned horror comedy.

But if "Detroiters," the beloved Comedy Central series with Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson that ran two seasons before getting canceled in 2018, ever gets a chance at a third season, she is ready.

“I would love to dive back into that role. And who would not want to go back to Detroit and shoot?” said the alum of Detroit School of Arts High, Finney High and Wayne State University.

Dalon's next project is acting opposite Alan Ruck of HBO’s “Succession" fame in the upcoming horror indie “Crust,” which will be directed by its co-writer, veteran character actor Sean Whalen (“The People Under the Stairs,” “That Thing You Do!”).

According to Deadline, “Crust” is about a laundry owner played by Whalen who finds a protector in a pile of leftover socks that transforms into a creature.

Dalon will play the agent representing Ruck’s character, a former child star who becomes enmeshed in the plot.

Last year, Dalon and Whalen had the chance to portray opposing attorneys in “Finding Nicole,” a Michigan-filmed drama about domestic violence that's based on the story of a real survivor and advocate. It's due for release this year.

After that experience, Whalen told Dalon that he had a part in a project that he wanted her to play. She read the script for "Crust" and loved it. “It reminds me of 'Little Shop of Horrors,' one of those cult classic films,” she said by phone.

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Since relocating to Los Angeles after "Detroiters” ended, Dalon appeared in 2021 on NBC’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and, before that, on Freeform’s “Good Trouble,” where she had a recurring role in a story line involving a class-action tenant lawsuit.

When Hollywood shut down temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dalon used some of her free time to work on her own projects. She wrote, executive-produced and starred in the short film “Booked,” now available on Tubi.

According to her, the production was shot in Detroit and found more than 90% of its cast and crew in the Motor City.

"I enjoy jumping into these dope roles that other people create, but there is something about writing your own and developing your own stuff that is important,” Dalon said.

She remains in touch with Richardson and Robinson, the creators of “Detroiters" who also starred as best friends running a small, decidedly quirky advertising agency. She has appeared in several episodes of Robinson’s Netflix sketch hit, “I Think You Should Leave,” and congratulated him in person last year for winning an Emmy for best actor in a short form comedy or drama.

“Detroiters,” now available via streaming, continues to gain fans nearly five years after its last episode aired. “The only reason I am on Twitter is because of 'Detroiters' fans,” said Dalon. “It’s got a huge following, really a new following, which is interesting.”

Last year, Questlove, the drummer for the Roots, “Tonight Show” musical director and Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker (for 2021's "Summer of Soul"), tweeted a plea to bring back "Detroiters."

Posted Questlove, “I’m willing the return of Detroiters back on the air. With all the post Ted Lasso power @jasonsudeikis has now — im telling you ... this is the comedy we deserve. #BringDetroiters Back. ” (Jason Sudeikis was an executive producer of the show and appeared on it as a Chrysler ad executive).

Said Dalon with a laugh: “I saw that tweet. I brought it up to Tim." She, for one, sounds as if she hasn't given up hope for a revival. “I will say this. Every cast member of 'Detroiters' is ready to do a 'Detroiters' season three. Every time we talk about it, everybody is for it.”

For now, Dalon says she is grateful to keep getting opportunities like “Crust” in such an unpredictable industry. Already, she sees potential for it to be a cult success.

"I told Sean (Whalen), 'I hope you’re ready for people dressing up on Halloween as this creature,'” she said. "I’m probably going to be Crust for Halloween!”

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Motor City actor Shawntay Dalon lands TV, film roles post-'Detroiters'