Alan Tudyk Credits His Wife for Stellar Resident Alien Directorial Debut: “It Was Two Tudyks”

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Watch out world, Harry Vanderspeigle is now behind the camera!

In fact, it is Alan Tudyk, the main character in the series “Resident Alien,” who will be making his directorial debut for the initial episodes of Season 4, titled “Prisoners” and “The Lonely Man.

2002 marked the first time Tudyk ventured into directing with his self-created web series, Con Man. However, it took him years to return to this endeavor. The new episodes by Tudyk kick off the season, unveiling the events that have transpired with Harry since he was captured by the Greys and trapped on the moon. In his place, a mantis-like, shape-shifting alien named Mantid (voiced by Clancy Brown), who resembles a mantis, has taken over Harry’s existence in Patience, Colorado.

At the premiere of “Resident Alien”, USA Insider interviewed Tudyk about leading his acting group, unexpected assistance he received on set, and an additional evaluation given by his fellow actor Corey Reynolds.

Alan Tudyk teases his favorite directorial moment in Episode 2

In the beginning of Season 4, Alan Tudyk seized the chance to direct, which provided him with plenty of time before filming to strategize and balance both directing and acting roles in the initial two episodes. Moreover, he enlisted the aid of his experienced choreographer wife, Charissa Barton, describing it as having “two Alan Tudyks” on the job.

In essence, she holds the title of my assistant, but in reality, she’s more like a director. In fact, she has directed more projects than I have, so she was there to oversee the production. (Alan Tudyk)

He shared that she was present throughout the pre-production phase, and having her viewpoint was particularly beneficial when it came to both directing and performing in a scene.

In another scenario, while she was performing, she could say, “Indeed, that was a strikeout,” which filled me with joy. We both had a fantastic time experiencing it,” he expressed.

In the initial two episodes, packed with surprising plot developments and turns, we inquired if there was a specific scene that held special significance for Tudyk. He hinted at one from “The Lonely Man,” featuring Enver Gjokaj’s character Joseph, the Grey alien-human hybrid, and Asta (played by Sara Tomko).

Regarding one particular moment, I had a multitude of thoughts about it, and I really appreciate the end result,” he expressed.

He mentioned that directing led him to revisit his initial sources of inspiration, such as early TV comedies from his past.

He found it captivating to discover his own abilities,” he pondered. “I’ve always admired Mel Brooks and cherished classic TV shows. Back when YouTube didn’t exist, I used to visit the Museum of Radio and Television to catch those old programs. As I stepped into this project, particularly with that scene, I found myself repeatedly saying, ‘Make it like and …,'” he elaborated, gesturing dramatically.

He mentioned that he was working on creating a traditional stage setup (a proscenium) for his cast. He also explained that there were certain elements, such as double takes and specific comic beats, which weren’t part of the final performance. However, he expressed satisfaction with the process and result, describing it as an enjoyable and dynamic transformation.

Corey Reynolds is happy to have “weird doctor” Harry back with the Mantid

This season, Corey Reynolds (also known as Sheriff Mike Thompson) was an enthusiastic supporter of Tudyk’s performances. As a fellow actor sharing scenes with him and the recipient of his direction this season, Reynolds expressed his delight in observing Tudyk immersing himself in the role of Harry, the Mantid character.

He commented on how fascinating it was to observe an alien impersonating another alien, who was pretending to be a human. The show seemed to revert back to its original format featuring the peculiar doctor in some aspects, with the new character, the Mantid, following in the footsteps of the alien Harry.

Additionally, he found it intriguing as it provided a glimpse into how much Harry has evolved since the beginning, as the Mantid resembled Harry at his initial stage: cold and mechanical. Watching the director, Alan, switch between the two characters was quite astounding.

In the upcoming weeks, fresh installments of “Resident Alien” can be watched every Friday on both USA Network and SYFY. A week later, all episodes will only be accessible for streaming on Peacock.

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2025-06-09 17:32