Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for ‘Paradise’ Season 1Paradisepremiered in January 2025, and within the first episode,James Marsden’s President Bradfordhad been assassinated on the Hulu show. Set in an underground bunker the size of a city,Paradisetook viewerson a journey with various layersas the conspiracy was unraveled one step at a time. Marsden’s President Cal was mainly seen through flashbacks in the eight-episode first season, yet, the character has been able to capture the interest of viewers. WithParadiseset for a second season, there is a need for the stalls to be set out regarding who might return and who wouldn’t. So, willParadiseSeason 2 see the return of President Bradford?
Paradiseis written and created byDan Fogelman. Fogelman’s work centers on Paradise, an underground city bunker in Colorado three years after an apocalyptic event.Sterling K. Brown, who plays Xavier Collins and serves as producer on the show, is tasked with finding who is responsible for President Cal’s death while also being a suspect himself. Speaking in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Fogelman revealed his appreciation for Marsden’s work as President Cal, while revealing the actor had pitched a unique way of bringing his character back. “James has been pitching me “zombie Cal Bradford,” which we’re not going to do,” Fogelman reveals. Adding, “We killed two characters this season where we loved the characters, and obviously loved the actors, and James is amazing and a big part of it all.”
Despite his love for the actor and the character he brought to life, Fogelman confirms thatPresident Cal will only return in future episodes ofParadiseif it fits the story. Fogelman’s comments read:
“I’ve done this before on other shows;what we won’t do and what you can’t do is change your story just to accommodate because you like somebody. Because if the story’s not going in that direction, it just gets worse. But will there be opportunities in real ways to do meaty stuff? I think there is going to be, yes, because it’s going to fit inside of our story.”
‘Paradise’ Will Get Three Seasons of Expanding Intrigue
Paradiseproved an intriguing watch given the many layers audiences had to peel back each episode. When you think you know what’s coming, the show throws a curveball to correct that impression. With characters such as Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) set fora return in Season 2, Fogelman reveals that the show will run for a total of three seasons, with the second season offering multiple layers of intrigue like its predecessor. “We havea really giant three-season story coming that’s bigger than what people think it is right now,and it’s going to span a couple of genres,” Fogelman says. Adding:
“The second season is going to do the same thing to the first season.It expands upon itself. We have a plan and, hopefully, by the end of all three seasons, people will feel like they’ve been served a complete meal and that it’s all one piece, even though they went through a lot of different journeys to get to the end.”
ParadiseSeason 2 is expected to begin production in the next few weeks. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates and coverage of the series and watchParadiseonHulu.
Source:The Hollywood Reporter
