As a fan of thought-provoking television shows that delve deep into societal issues, I found “The Madness” to be an engaging and enlightening series. The character development, particularly that of Muncie, resonated with me on a personal level. Having grown up in a similar environment where I too had to grapple with the echoes of my ancestors’ past, I could relate to Muncie’s journey towards self-discovery and understanding.
[This story contains major spoilers from the finale of The Madness.]
2021 has been a remarkable year for Colman Domingo, with several significant milestones achieved. Known for his role in Euphoria, he received his first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Actor, recognizing his portrayal of civil rights hero Bayard Rustin in the film Rustin, which was produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
In “The Madness,” Domingo portrays Muncie Daniels, a charismatic CNN commentator and native Philadelphian who unwittingly encounters a murder and is falsely accused. To clear his name from the charge of killing a white supremacist, Muncie initially needs to control his arrogance and reconcile with his estranged wife Elena (Marsha Stephanie Blake), teenage son Demetrius (Thaddeus J. Mixson) and daughter Kallie (Gabrielle Graham). Kallie is his first child whom he had left behind due to image concerns. However, in order to become the father he should be, Muncie must face his own distressing recollections of a father who was an activist and ended up imprisoned for standing by his convictions.
Uncertain about the identity of his pursuers and their motives, Muncie finds himself in a precarious position, uncertain of the right steps to take and who to rely upon. This indecision results in tenuous partnerships with Lucie, the victim’s wife (played by Tamsin Topolski), and FBI agent Franco Quinones (John Ortiz), individuals he can’t help but question his trust in. Just as Muncie believes he’s managed to escape the danger, a new challenge emerges in the form of Julia Jayne (Alison Wright), who shows no hesitation in taking lives. Matters worsen with the presence of a powerful tycoon (Neal Huff) on the scene, one who enjoys public support. In this challenging situation, Muncie possesses two hidden advantages — his friend and lawyer Kwesi (Deon Cole), as well as Isiah (Stephen McKinley Henderson), an acquaintance of his father’s who has known him since childhood. Despite their disagreements, neither one of them will abandon him.
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Domingo discusses taking on the role of Muncie Daniels, leading a series based in his hometown, his thoughts on “The Madness” in a Trump 2.0 era, and whether he’d consider a second season following his decision not to board that plane.
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Why did The Madness serve as an excellent initial series for you to direct, and why was Muncie a character that appealed to you and wished to portray?
This narrative encompasses everything that’s on our minds today, from culture and politics. Muncie Daniels, a centrist character, finds himself in a predicament – being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He must navigate the world to resolve his situation. I personally think it’s crucial to engage with the world and converse with diverse individuals, even those who don’t share our beliefs, to foster new perspectives. In many ways, I empathized with Muncie as he embarks on a journey that many people require today – sifting through misinformation, forging alliances, and sometimes finding common ground with the unexpected. Essentially, it’s an ordinary person’s odyssey thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
How was filming this project set in your hometown?
I was absolutely thrilled! A significant portion of our series was filmed in Toronto, but I had always known we’d be doing exteriors in Philadelphia and New York. When they mentioned we’d shoot scenes in Philly, I couldn’t help but say, “We’ve got to visit the real Philly, we’ve got to go to West Philly.” Incredibly, parts of our running montage were filmed right past my childhood home, and in the same park where I used to play. In fact, there’s an episode where Elena and I are seen in a park – that very park was my childhood hangout, located just across the street from my elementary school. To add to the nostalgia, some of our background actors were actually childhood friends of mine, albeit in the deep background scenes.
What kind of preparation did you do? Because Muncie in the first episode, he’s…
He’s doing the most. He’s doing the entire most. I had to go through training for Jiu Jitsu. That was one of the first things, and hand-to-hand combat and also gun work. I did some of that work on Fear of The Walking Dead. And I’m used to doing physical work, but I hadn’t gone in like that, especially with Jiu Jitsu, which, actually, I really took to very quickly because for me it’s like choreography, taking me back to my Broadway stage days. So that was really cool. I love anything that’s athletic and anything and challenging. I loved every challenge. And also knowing that Muncie was pretty much in every frame over the first four to five episodes, I knew that I had to really have stamina and have discipline, not only to do the physical work, but also the vocal work.
Muncie can often feel quite challenging, particularly when it appears he’s oblivious to the genuine hurdles he encounters due to being an African-American man.
What struck me as intriguing about Muncie was his seating arrangement, which made me ponder. Many people, and I believe I’m not one of them, but they often create a protective barrier around themselves, leading to a sort of isolation or bubble. This is why his wife, who is very Black, questioned him: “Hold on, so you visited this white man’s house for what reason?” It seemed as if he had been so immersed in his own privileged space that he had forgotten about the potential risks and prejudice he might face. Essentially, removing all aspects of his status, wealth, and power reveals the typical treatment a Black man encounters in society.
Discuss the dynamics between him and Elena (Marsha Stephanie Blake), his seemingly separated spouse. The reasons for their separation, however, remain somewhat unclear throughout the series.
That’s the beautiful thing. Actually, we made an agreement on the fact that we don’t even need to know exactly what went on in the relationship or why they’re not together. We thought it would be stronger to make it something existential, that they’re just in very different places in their lives. They met at a time when Muncie was an activist, and they were out there, probably in these streets together, trying to do good for people. And then Muncie has sort of elevated himself up to being a college professor and a CNN pundit and they just seem to be in very different places and have very different needs in the world. So I think that’s what’s pulling them apart. And Marsha Stephanie Blake, who I love so much, who plays Elena, we did some work to make sure that we always felt that there was still love, there was still attraction between each other, that she just wasn’t feeling him. (Laughs)
Could you share some understanding about Muncie, portraying him as a parent to his teenage son Demetrius (Thaddeus J. Mixson) and his grown-up daughter Kallie (Gabrielle Graham)?
Initially, Muncie appears distant in various aspects when we’re introduced to him. He seems involved in his son’s life but struggles to genuinely connect with him. Their needs and perspectives are quite dissimilar, particularly as a young Black man navigating the world, and Muncie pushes him towards different aspirations rather than understanding and supporting his current circumstances. Moreover, he’s been estranged from his grown daughter due to past life decisions, leaving her without a fatherly figure. He attempts to mend their relationship but lacks the skills to initiate the healing process effectively. Gabrielle Graham delivers a powerful performance as his daughter, and they developed a strong bond during filming, with Gabrielle adopting some characteristics of my niece. As a result, she feels like family to me.
It’s possible that one of the issues Muncie had with Demetrius initially was because he often tried to be friendly towards him as a way to gain an advantage over Elena.
Indeed. In my opinion, he’s attempting to establish a connection with his son, yet lacks the skills required to be an effective father figure. Initially, he fails as a parent. The story of “The Madness” revolves around him learning to understand, acknowledge, and respond to his son’s feelings, anger, and perceptions of injustice. His son, Demetrius, can be seen as a modern-day Malcolm X, while Muncie might represent Martin Luther King Jr. They must find common ground together on their journey.
Working with Stephen McKinley Henderson, who portrayed Isiah, was truly momentous for me as a theater enthusiast. Additionally, having Deon Cole on set was equally exciting.
As a fan, I can’t help but admire the legendary Stephen McKinley. His down-to-earth demeanor sets a high standard that makes you strive to give your best performance. His grounded presence has a way of making those around him feel the same. During our brief stint together on The Color Purple, I knew Deon Cole was perfect for Muncie’s friend and attorney, Kwesi. With Muncie juggling various professional settings like CNN offices and constant code-switching, Kwesi needed to be a familiar face who could bring out Muncie’s rawest self without any filters. When we decided on Deon, I was confident he would deliver an authentic friendship portrayal that felt real in every way. Deon is simply fantastic! While he may be well-known for his comedic skills, he showcases remarkable dramatic acting abilities as well.
VJ Boyd, one of the co-showrunners for The Madness, emphasized the significance of having Muncie surrounded by other Black individuals.
Indeed, we’re well aware of the universe he inhabits. It might seem a common plot device to segregate him and not delve deeply into his racial identity. However, it was intentionally addressed to underline that he is undeniably a multifaceted Black character in this world.
Talk about the very formidable villain Julia Jayne, played by Alison Wright.
Oh Julia Jayne, I’m quite impressed! Oh my goodness, Alison plays her roles in such an enigmatic manner that it’s hard to guess what her character is thinking or feeling. Yet, despite this mysterious side, Alison herself is incredibly warm and humorous, with a quirky charm that’s endearing. What makes working with her during scenes particularly delightful is the way she engages in a one-of-a-kind exchange, as if she’s probing beyond your facial expressions, and always seeming to anticipate your moves by three steps.
And then there’s the relationship Muncie has with Franco Quinones played by John Ortiz.
John Ortiz is simply outstanding. I’ve been a fan of his since our days in New York theater, as he was part of the LAByrinth Theater Company. So, when I learned that he was cast, my excitement knew no bounds. I believe he’s an exceptional actor with a heart of gold. His dedication to work is truly inspiring. It was a delight collaborating with him.
Oh, and we can’t forget Muncie’s tie to Mark Simon’s wife Lucie (Tamsin Topolski).
She’s a character he believes he has nothing in common with. He has so many ideas and opinions about her from [her] being part of this white supremacist group, and this woman is actively doing work to disavow that and be something different. So he’s meeting her when she’s at a crossroads. And he forms an ally in her in a way that he probably never would imagine they would’ve.
Talk about Muncie realizing that he’s not that much different from his father.
He thought he was doing things in a different way. But isn’t that something that history teaches us that no matter what you’re still doing things the exact same way. It’s just that it looks a little different, or you think you’re so different. You know we always try to get away from, ‘oh, I don’t want to be nothing like my mother or my father.’ And then you end up saying the same things just like they do. [laughs] It feels like that’s exactly what it is. It’s really examining familiar relationships and history and how sometimes you can’t run from that. Instead of saying, “Oh, I don’t want to be like [them],” you have to examine who they are and then make conscious decisions to actually do the work to not be like [them].
Why didn’t Muncie choose to board the plane and avoid the commotion? Many might argue that it wasn’t the best moment for him to flee.
Hey there! (Laughs) You know how he’s always been one to retreat in the past? Well, this time, he’s decided to face things squarely and come up with a fresh approach. For me, that’s Muncie taking a literal U-turn and making a groundbreaking change. He’s all set to tackle it head-on, pushing harder and stronger than ever before.
Did any part of the character Rodney Kraintz, played by Neal Huff and reminiscent of Elon Musk, seem upsetting or unsettling to you in the story?
It’s amusing, but it didn’t seem significant while we were shooting, however, now it feels like a reflection of our current times. The scene raises several questions about events happening today, such as who is really controlling things? Who is sowing these seeds of misinformation? These were the very questions our showrunners VJ Boyd and Stephen Belber were curious about when they wrote this scene months ago. It’s fascinating that as the series airs, these are exactly the questions on everyone’s minds.
Do you see a Madness 2 for you?
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my hope that there’s more to the captivating story of “Madness.” Muncie and his family have been through so much, and I believe their journey is far from over. With the lessons they’ve learned, it would be fascinating to see them transform into modern-day superheroes, using their powers for good and making a difference in the world. I feel an overwhelming desire to accompany this family on their adventures across Europe and witness the impact they make.
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You can now watch all eight episodes of “The Madness” on Netflix. Check out the exclusive interview with showrunners VJ Boyd and Stephen Belber, featured in THR.
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2024-12-03 19:25