Making of ‘Paradise’: How a White Lie and a Far-Fetched Apocalyptic Natural Disaster Birthed the Thriller

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During a meeting with a successful businessman, Dan Fogelman was inspired to create the concept for Paradise. He was deeply impressed by this man and his lifestyle, which led him to wonder about the many individuals who work under such figures. If disaster ever struck, Fogelman pondered, would these people remain loyal or prioritize their own well-being? Given my observations, I believed they would opt for self-preservation.

In the backdrop of the U.S. administration, with the President of the United States and those who are ready to sacrifice themselves for him, as Fogelman describes, is set the post-apocalyptic thriller penned by him. The protagonist in this story is Secret Service agent Xavier Collins, portrayed by Sterling K. Brown, who instigates a rebellion after the demise of reluctant President Cal Bradford, played by James Marsden, in search of answers.

Speaking as a fan, I’d put it like this: “In a way, my character is always the life of the party, ready to enjoy every moment and make the right choices,” Marsden explains about his role, which appears exclusively in flashbacks. “There was still room for humor,” he notes. “I had the freedom to inject some lightheartedness into this rather serious narrative, thanks to my character’s spontaneous and playful nature.

The pivotal event that kicked off the plot for the Hulu series was the explosive eruption of a colossal volcano, triggering a chain reaction of global catastrophes such as a devastating 600-mph tsunami and an enormous 8.9 magnitude earthquake. The audience isn’t privy to these specific details until episode seven. This domino effect results in the downfall of numerous nations and the evacuation of 25,000 carefully selected American citizens to an underground city where the narrative unfolds.

Fogelman explains that he, along with his writing team which includes Stephen Markley, the author of the dystopian novel “The Deluge“, consulted a variety of experts in fields such as psychology, sociology, archeology, and architecture who specialize in predicting catastrophic events. These individuals are known for delivering talks on how the world may come to an end through platforms like TED. Their insights were crucial in determining the central apocalyptic event for the series.

He clarifies, “We aimed for an element within our TV show that addresses the topic of climate change and natural disasters, but remains somewhat fantastical – not a guaranteed doomsday scenario, just one possibility.

Julianne Nicholson’s character, Sinatra, designed the city in the old world and still wields influence backstage in the new one. Fogelman managed to secure the actress for the role by bending a few rules since she was already committed to another project starting at the same time. Admittedly, he deceived the television studio, claiming they needed additional funds to prepare departments for more weeks, when in reality, his main intention was to delay things so that he could bring Julianne from the U.K. to the United States.

Despite potential scheduling issues, Nicholson was immediately captivated upon receiving the scripts for the first four episodes. It’s in the second episode, named after her character, that we discover Sinatra’s past: she was a tech billionaire – “the wealthiest self-made woman on the planet,” to be precise – before the catastrophic event. We learn about her meeting her future husband and even see a moment where she smiled before her son’s death, a tragedy that now shapes the sternness with which she wields her power. “I had never read an episode that so gracefully and sensitively delves into these crucial moments in a woman’s life,” says Nicholson.

Contrary to her claim, “I’m not a monster, despite appearances,” my favorite character in the show turns out to be the central antagonist – at least during season one. The finale hints at a potential rivalry between her and Nicole Brydon Bloom’s character, Jane Driscoll, played by Jon Beavers, who portrays an assassin. In earlier episodes, she cold-bloodedly eliminates her own boyfriend, Secret Service agent Billy Pace. It’s Jack Nicholson’s chilling portrayal of the authoritarian figure that makes both viewers and fellow actors love to loathe her.

For quite some time, Brown has harbored an acting admiration for Nicholson. He notes that she is exceptional at making viewers dislike her character, specifically her portrayal of Sinatra.

Contrastingly, Brown, who played the lovable father and husband Randall Pearson in Fogelman’s NBC family drama “This Is Us”, has an uncanny ability to make viewers empathize with his characters. Collins, the main character of “Paradise”, is one such audience favorite. In the series, viewers witness Collins’ intense struggle to convince his wife Teri (Enuka Okuma) to board a plane in Atlanta, hoping to reach the bunker with their children. In episode six, Collins finds out that there’s a possibility Teri may have survived, unlike many other Americans left behind. This revelation in season one sets up a significant storyline for season two, as Collins decides to leave the bunker to search for his wife in the finale.

Fogelman acknowledges that although he hadn’t consciously verbalized it, and wasn’t aware if he had subconsciously considered it, as he shared the script with a few trusted friends, they all asked, ‘Did you send this to Sterling? Is he going to be involved?’ It gradually dawned on him that during the entire writing process, he had indeed envisioned Sterling for the role. Moreover, if Sterling declines, which Fogelman considers highly likely, he wonders whether he can continue with the TV series without him.

From the moment I laid eyes on the pilot script for “Paradise,” I knew it was a piece I wanted to be a part of. As soon as I finished reading, my thoughts were, “Wow, this is a breeze. When can we get started?” Having Steve Beers, one of our producers, rally the team was another bonus. The crew for “Paradise” feels like a reunion, almost like coming home again. It’s like a homecoming.

As a passionate fan, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with production designer Kevin Bird, an exciting newcomer on the Paramount lot where our favorite show is filmed. It was my privilege to witness him taking on the monumental task of crafting the unique aesthetic for a two-and-a-half-mile-wide city set nestled in the breathtaking Colorado mountainside.

Bird describes it as a blend of traditional New England architecture with a Disney touch, yet he finds it unsettlingly perfect.

Initially, Fogelman conceived a completely distinct concept for the series’ location. At some stage, he considered the surprising twist that they weren’t beneath ground, but instead were on a spaceship, but he found that idea too challenging, so he discarded it.

A significant portion of the design was influenced by a comprehensive, academic article penned by a sociology professor, which served as a guide for the TV series on managing a city like this one.

Bird, who constructed much of the show’s indoor sets – homes, library, diner, etc., explains that the rule book was our compass during building and location hunting phases. “It clearly provided us with the guidelines when we were setting things up,” he says. He also mentions that there are numerous mansions in L.A., so they utilized those for the exterior shots of wealthy homeowners. For the suburban area where characters like Collins and Pace reside, the team filmed outside Los Angeles, specifically in Santa Clarita.

To make the city stand out even more, composer Siddhartha Khosla designed not only the music for the show but also the unique sounds produced when residents swipe their electronic wristbands. These devices serve both as a payment method and a means to receive special alerts. As Khosla explains, he came up with these sounds by fiddling with an omnichord, a 1980s synthesizer, and sending the resulting bleeps and bloops to [editor] Howard [Leder].

A portion of the final episode took place within an old quarry, as it followed the footsteps of President Bradford’s murderer – beware of spoilers! The shocking revelation was that the city librarian (Ian Merrigan), a past project manager, was responsible for the crime. He had been dismissed after raising concerns about workers being exposed to arsenopyrite poisoning during the construction of the underground city.

According to Bird, the structure boasted a colossal, 180-degree rock wall towering approximately 250 feet. Remarkably, we stumbled upon a massive blimp hangar, a relic from World War II, and recognized it as an ideal gateway into the mountain, making it truly awe-inspiring.

As a die-hard fan, I’d say, “On-site filming reduced the reliance on visual effects in our beloved series, and the versatile landscapes of Los Angeles made it feel like we were right there in Paradise, as if it was all too real.

Bird states that when everything is just set designs, it can feel as if they’re not constructing reality. Since the size of these sets would never be possible on a stage, shooting in Los Angeles turned out to be beneficial.”

“According to Bird, having only stage builds can make it seem like they aren’t truly building anything real. As the scale of these structures couldn’t be achieved on a stage, filming in L.A. was actually advantageous due to this.

Filming for season two is once again underway in Los Angeles, a city that holds significant importance for both Fogelman and Brown, as they aim to revitalize more film production within the historic Hollywood scene.

Since we’re currently producing on the Paramount lot, we have a great deal of flexibility to choose any stage we need, as city activity is significantly reduced compared to when we filmed ‘This Is Us’ from 2016 to 2022,” he explains. “I’m hopeful that the $750 million, the proposed increase in the film tax credit plan that has been passed in the state Senate, will make a difference,” he continues. “I just don’t want it to come too late.

This tale was initially published in a special June edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine. If you’d like to get the magazine, follow this link to subscribe.

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2025-06-17 18:25