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Cologero and Jane forever!
A Bronx Tale fans were delighted to see that stars Lillo Brancato Jr. and Taral Hicks are back together and bringing that first-crush feeling to a new fashion collaboration. On Jan. 12, Jason “J-FROST” Adams teased the Sweethearts X J-FROST collection with a video featuring the two actors holding hands while posing together around New York City.
Hicks, 51, and Brancato, 50, both rocked matching black sweatshirts with heart-shaped candy graphics in the promo. The collection officially debuted on Jan. 16 — and the two stars gave it their seal of approval.
“Y’ALL READY FOR THIS DROP!! MY NEW FAVORITE HOODIE!!🩵💙💜🤍💛🩷,” Hicks commented on the drop.
“I love this concept and clothing, Thanks J🔥💯,” Brancato wrote.
The 1993 crime drama centers on Calogero, who is just 9 years old when the film kicks off. Growing up in the Bronx, the young Calogero (played by Francis Capra) observes his father, Lorenzo (Robert De Niro in his directorial debut), a blue-collar local bus driver, while also admiring the life of local gangster Sonny (Chazz Palminteri).
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As Calogero grows up (then played by Brancato), he finds himself caught between the two worlds. It’s further complicated when he falls in love with Jane (Hicks), a Black girl living in his neighborhood who also finds herself enmeshed in the tension between Italian American and African American residents of the area.
The pair, who both got their big-screen debut in the movie, most recently got together in October 2025 to raise money for veterans facing homelessness and addiction.
In an interview with Fox 5, Washington, D.C., in December 2025, Hicks opened up about landing the role with only theater experience.
“Well, I started on off-Broadway in a little show called Mama, I Want to Sing. Well, I shouldn’t say little. It was a great show called Mama, I Want to Sing. And that led me to audition for A Bronx Tale,” she explained.
“I had never had any film experience, and to be on set with giants like Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri and even newcomer Lillo Brancato, who looked exactly like Robert De Niro, it was very intimidating,” she continued.
Hicks says she believes that prayer and her talents helped her get the role, which opened more doors for her.
“I was just a girl from the Bronx with no experience. But, you know, I think my belief and my faith in God and my prayers to get the role is really what landed me that role. Faith, faith the size of a mustard seed. I prayed for A Bronx Tale,” she said.
“I said, ‘God, if this is my path, if this is my journey, this is what I’m supposed to be doing, then you will make it happen.’ And look, the rest is history. I’m here. He made it happen. And I continue to just flourish in all the gifts that he’s given me. and I’m extremely grateful and honored.”
