Dan Fogelman’s Dirty Little Secret

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[This story contains major spoilers from season one, episode four of Paradise.]

Dan Fogelman is fessing up.

The creator and screenwriter behind the popular series “Paradise,” known for his successful projects such as “This Is Us” and “Only Murders in the Building,” shared with The Hollywood Reporter a small deception he employed towards 20th Television (a division of Disney) to push back filming on the post-apocalyptic drama that’s currently dominating screens and social media platforms.

Fogelman chuckles as he tells The Hollywood Reporter, ‘I’m expressing this now because it seems the show might become somewhat popular, so people may not mind,’ while discussing the recent episode of the Hulu series.

In the initial three episodes of the series (available on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in the U.K.), Sterling K. Brown portrays Secret Service Agent Xavier Collins as he grapples with the assassination of his charge, President Cal Bradford (played by James Marsden). Meanwhile, the enigmatic yet influential figure Sinatra, played by Julianne Nicholson, maintains the semblance of normalcy in their idyllic underground sanctuary nestled amidst the Colorado mountains. The finale of the first episode unveiled a significant plot twist as viewers were given a glimpse that this subterranean haven has been safeguarding a thriving community of 25,000 individuals for more than a year from the devastating environmental crisis plaguing the world above.

Xavier looks after two kids and has Jon Beavers’ character, Agent Billy Pace, as his partner. However, this arrangement might change when Sarah Shahi’s character, Dr. Gabriela Torabi, enters the scene. In episode three, she helps Xavier escape surveillance (even in the shower) to set up a shocking twist: She reveals that there’s a message from the deceased president suggesting that Billy cannot be trusted.

In the fourth episode this week, Xavier finds himself questioning the loyalty of those around him. When he confronts Billy, his partner reveals that Sinatra is responsible for his actions. The audience gets a brief look into Pace’s sad past, which includes being abused by his uncle and serving time in prison, turning him into a strong, brutal figure capable of protecting a president.

In another part of the story, viewers witness Billy, under Sinatra’s instructions, brutally murdering explorers from the bunker who were investigating if life could survive above ground. Before Billy has the chance to explain his actions to Xavier, Jane – Billy’s seemingly innocent girlfriend (played by Nicole Brydon Bloom) – secretly poisons Billy, making it appear as though he took his own life.

In an interview with THR, Fogelman shared why he chose to eliminate Beavers’ character despite developing feelings for the actor. He also discussed his decision to cast James Marsden as the ideal president, and the extensive efforts he made to secure Nicholson for his series: “From the start, she was someone I really wanted… I went to great lengths.

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Did you know early on that Billy wasn’t going to be a character who would make it to the end?

It’s an intriguing query – indeed. When penning the initial script, I simply took my seat and let the words flow without fully mapping out the plot’s twists and turns. It wasn’t until I became deeply enamored with both the character and the performer that I grasped the most unforeseen twist: ending his life in a manner we had planned. This surprise would be impactful, as my aim was to first win over the audience with his charm in that episode, ensuring they wouldn’t predict his demise.

However, I grew quite fond of the actor, John Beavers. As his character was destined to perish after only four episodes, there might have been an inclination to cast a well-known figure for this brief arc. Yet, John submitted a recorded audition that impressed me so much, I felt he should land the role. He delivered exceptionally well. To ensure there could be no doubt in my mind, I arranged for a chemistry reading via tape, and he once again excelled.

At that moment, the fourth script for this episode was already complete, featuring a lengthy scene where the character has a showdown with Sinatra in her office. I approached Jon and asked, “Hey, could I have a quick word? Would you do me a favor?” I left the room with him, and we printed out the pages of that particular scene. I explained, “Take a look at these pages. If it doesn’t feel right or if things don’t go well, I won’t show anyone this, but I just want to keep it handy in case.” To my surprise, within five minutes, he was back at the door, saying, “I’m ready.” The amount of content took me aback, but he delivered an incredible performance. However, I couldn’t help but feel sad because we were about to kill his character off just a few scenes later.

In the thrilling twist at the end of episode three, I found myself questioning Billy’s motives. However, it turns out that Sinatra’s influence over him was futile. In reality, Billy proved to be an ally, standing firm on the side of good.

Absolutely! One aspect I’ve always admired about the show, particularly its characters surrounding Sterling, is their complexity. They aren’t strictly good or evil. Characters like Billy are deeply flawed individuals who commit heinous acts, yet you find yourself drawn to him in the same episode where such actions occur. Julianne Nicholson’s character might seem villainous, but she’s also the one who will likely evoke tears and empathy from viewers in numerous ways. I’m striving to maintain a positive perspective on humanity right now – even those who appear wicked may not be entirely so.

“At one point this season, I found myself saying, ‘I’m not a monster, despite how it might appear.’ It’s those characters with a morally gray area that make them truly captivating. And while Julianne certainly brings the sinister vibe, I can’t help but wonder if she was always the favorite to portray Sinatra.”

From the outset, she was the woman I desired deeply. I had always appreciated her from a distance. My intention wasn’t to portray Sinatra as a mustache-twirling antagonist; instead, I envisioned her as gentle yet powerful. Truly, Julianne and I connected over Zoom, I shared the scripts with her, and we became compatible. I believed she was interested, and then I learned she was on board, which filled me with joy. However, it turned out that there had been a mix-up in communication – she was engaged in filming a movie or another series, and our schedules weren’t aligning.

In essence, I went above and beyond. I pleaded, “Could we adjust the filming timeline?”, and though there was a minor modification, it wasn’t enough. The schedules were too intertwined. Eventually, I received the news, “You must leave.” I was heartbroken. However, given that the show might become moderately popular, I don’t expect anyone to care now. But, in truth, I misled the studio by saying: “We aren’t prepared to produce the show; we require more time for preparation,” which resulted in a significant financial expenditure to extend prep… I manipulated various aspects of the situation, but it enabled us to postpone filming and allowed Julianne to be available. Now, it’s clear that everyone is grateful for our decision.

Dan Fogelman, you lied to Disney?

(Laughs) I lied to Disney to buy a couple of weeks of time for Julianne Nicholson.

This little piece of information piques my interest. Could you enlighten me about Sinatra’s reasons? I know she aims to maintain secrecy for the sake of safety. Perhaps it’s a sense of: “If tragedy strikes, everyone experiences it.”

It seems to me there are essentially two perspectives on humanity that exist, don’t you agree? One perspective asserts that people are inherently selfish and will seize what is good if given the chance. On the other hand, there’s a belief that not everyone is wicked and that goodness resides within people even in challenging situations. These opposing viewpoints seem to be in conflict for Sinatra.

In its initial seasons, “The Walking Dead” was more than just your average post-apocalyptic series. It was gripping because it delved into a fundamental question: What extreme measures would you take during a disaster to safeguard your loved ones and those you care about? Would you resort to violence? This underlying theme is also present in the character of Sinatra, who has been committing questionable acts for a prolonged period, all under the pretext of protecting not just her family, but eventually an entire group. At some point, she will likely face a moral confrontation about these actions.

By the way, shall we discuss Mr. President as well? Was James Marsden your first choice all along?

At the outset, there were many conversations revolving around who would be cast as the president. It’s quite a challenging concept to visualize, especially considering the character was depicted as a womanizing, alcohol-consuming president with authority and weight. [Marsden] was someone I had in mind right from the start. I reached out to him on several occasions. In an embarrassing incident at a dinner, I almost went up to him, but my wife pleaded with me not to disturb his mealtime and discuss the matter. Later, during an awards ceremony, I found myself in an awkward situation when I ran into him in the lounge while he was being honored for his work. I bluntly approached him there and said, “I have something for you. I’m Dan.

After reaching home, I shared my experience with my wife, feeling incredibly awkward following my interaction with James Marsden. “I must have seemed so peculiar to him,” I thought, “and now I’m convinced he’ll never want to work with me again.” However, he later claimed that he found me endearing, but I remain skeptical.

I’m sure he did.

He performed exceptionally well in this task. Three unspoken guidelines in Hollywood are: avoid acting with children, avoid acting with dogs, and refrain from portraying the President of the United States. Many actors might decline such a role, thinking, “No, thank you. I don’t wish to enact a fictional president who drinks in the Oval Office.” [Marsden] fearlessly embraced all aspects of it. He is extremely charismatic, hilarious, and intelligent. However, he also possesses a profound depth and weight, particularly as the series progresses. Few individuals can embody looks, charm, charisma, and humor so effortlessly. This unique combination is seldom found in one package.

Who were the individuals or resources you consulted during your extensive research on environmental disasters, including the potential threat of a nuclear winter, when referring to Cal Bradford as the current leader of our world facing an imminent planetary crisis?

We accomplished our objectives from every angle. To gain insights into the future of urban planning, we consulted with an architect whose responsibilities extended beyond film sets to think tanks, envisioning cities of tomorrow. We also spoke to sociologists, one of whom penned a lengthy essay for us, a 40-page treatise delving into the mental framework behind establishing an underground civilization. Titled “A Hypothesis on Constructing a Flawless Underground Civilization for 25,000 Inhabitants,” this piece offered valuable insights on governance, potential pitfalls to avoid, and the keys to maintaining stability. This scholarly treatise thus served as a valuable resource.

In our series, we’ve had extensive discussions revolving around climate change and nuclear disasters. The setting of our story is deliberately vague; the true state of the world remains uncertain. We’ve taken great care in creating this mystery. One of my writers, who penned what I consider an exceptional American novel titled “The Deluge” by Stephen Markley, has been a part of our team. This 1,000-page novel, spanning four decades, fictionalizes an environmental disaster. Therefore, his insights from the novel have proven extremely helpful in shaping our show.

Whenever the topic of climate change arises, I often find myself expressing, “I’d rather wait for Markley to join us, as I prefer not to discuss this without his insights.” Additionally, we delved into TED Talks and found ourselves amazed by the vast amount of information available online. Initially, we were concerned that our extensive research into potentially alarming subjects might draw unwanted attention. This topic will be expanded upon in the second season, as we’ve constructed a detailed simulation of what we believe transpired, taking into account environmental changes, nuclear events, and various other associated phenomena. We have a well-thought-out hypothesis regarding the global events that occurred above ground.

Did you speak to any government officials?

Indeed, we delved deeply into the intricacies of the Cuban Missile Crisis, examining personal recollections and archived accounts from various perspectives – such as Winston Churchill’s experiences or those during the Cuban Missile Crisis itself. We aimed to capture the atmosphere in critical situations, like being present in a room where momentous events unfold. Our research also encompassed the aftermath of 9/11, including an extraordinary article detailing minute-by-minute events from Air Force One with George W. Bush. This piece highlighted the confusion that ensued when systems failed and the unknown scale of the threat, as well as the actions taken by journalists on board. While there’s no precedent for this event, we strive to make our portrayal as authentic as possible.

Based on that research, did you establish how likely it is that any of this could happen?

Initially, we decided to create this without any specific environmental or other agendas in mind. Our primary goal was to provide an engaging spectacle on a grand scale. I aimed for a concept that was imaginative enough to avoid being the most likely scenario for the world’s end, yet still plausible enough to potentially bring about such destruction. Thus, we sought to balance between the realms of fantasy and reality in our creation.

There are numerous other potential catastrophes that could occur on Earth, and while this specific one might not be something to lose sleep over, the way society crumbles in the show is a chilling reminder of how vulnerable we truly are. What’s particularly terrifying about climate change that I’ve come to understand is that just a few inches of sea level rise may seem insignificant and small, but they can set off economic collapse and societal breakdowns.

Just one last query. From what I gather, Jane seems to be keeping a low profile. I have some doubts about her actions. Could you clear up whether my suspicions are well-founded or not?

I would be worried about her. She killed her boyfriend.

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You can now watch the initial four episodes of “Paradise” on Hulu, and fresh episodes will be available every Tuesday. To get a glimpse into episode four, check out THR’s conversation with Jon Beavers.

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2025-02-05 19:26