See the Cast of “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” Side by Side With Their Real-Life Counterparts

Almost four years after its big debut on Hulu, “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” is coming to an end with a third and final season. Set in the early ’90s, the true-life-inspired series tells a fictionalized account of the formation of the iconic hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and its early success years, specifically around the impact of their seminal debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).”

“Wu-Tang: An American Saga” is loosely based on real-life people so the actors undergo some incredible transformations throughout the seasons to get into character. While biopic drama includes a star-studded cast – Ashton Sanders, Shameik Moore, and many more – a few Wu-Tang Clan members are also involved behind the scenes; RZA serves as cocreator and executive producer, while Method Man is an executive producer. Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, and GZA also serve as consulting producers alongside the estate of the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004.

Of starring in the iconic hip-hop series, TJ Atoms, who portrays Ol’ Dirty Bastard, tells POPSUGAR it’s been “a dream come true.” Sanders, who plays the incomparable RZA, adds, “It’s dope that we’re reintroducing this cool-ass f*cking group to our generation . . . that people have been able to enjoy it and we’re putting them onto this culture.”

Meanwhile, Zolee Griggs, who’s had the priviledge of playing a loose portrayal of RZA’s sister Shurrie, sums up the experience of retelling Wu-Tang’s Clan history as a “conundrum.” “It’s really cool though because you have people our age who give props, or I’ve got old heads who were here before me, really lived it, seen it, and they’re giving me props,” she elaborates. “I’m like, ‘Dang, this is really a cultural movement.’ I wasn’t even around or I was a baby, and these people are speaking to me with such passion and life. You can feel how it really resonated with them.”

As we get ready to say farewell to the modern-day Wu-Tang Clan and “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”‘s key players, scroll ahead to see the cast side by side with their real-life counterparts.

Related: The “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” Cast on Retelling the Clan’s Story: “Art and Life Mimic Each Other”

Hulu / Barbara Nitke

Ashton Sanders as Bobby Diggs, aka RZA in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / David Corio

Bobby Diggs, aka RZA, in Real Life

Hulu

Shameik Moore as Corey Woods, aka Raekwon in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Bob Berg

Corey Woods, aka Raekwon, in Real Life

Hulu / Vanessa Clifton

Siddiq Saunderson as Dennis Coles, aka Ghostface Killah in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Bob Berg

Dennis Coles, aka Ghostface Killah, in Real Life

Hulu

Dave East as Clifford Smith Jr., aka Method Man in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Al Pereira

Clifford Smith Jr., aka Method Man, in Real Life

Hulu

Julian Elijah Martinez as Mitchell "Divine" Diggs in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Johnny Nunez

Mitchell "Divine" Diggs in Real Life

Hulu

Marcus Callender as Oliver "Power" Grant in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / SOPA Images

Oliver "Power" Grant in Real Life

Hulu / Vanessa Clifton

TJ Atoms as Russell Tyrone Jones, aka Ol' Dirty Bastard in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Al Pereira

Russell Tyrone Jones, aka Ol' Dirty Bastard, in Real Life

Hulu

Johnell Young as Gary Earl Grice, aka GZA in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Bob Berg

Gary Earl Grice, aka GZA, in Real Life

Hulu / Vanessa Clifton

Damani D. Sease as Lamont Jody Hawkins, aka U-God in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Bob Berg

Lamont Jody Hawkins, aka U-God, in Real Life

Hulu / Vanessa Clifton

Uyoata Udi as Jason Richard Hunter, aka Inspectah Deck in "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"

Getty / Kevin Winter

Jason Richard Hunter, aka Inspectah Deck, in Real Life

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