Paradise creator Dan Fogelman admitted to lying to Disney in order to delay the series’ production so he could secure the political thriller’s most powerful figure. Hulu’s hit new show takes place in a massive underground community three years after a doomsday event, following Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) as he investigates the assassination of the U.S. president. Julianne Nicholson portrays Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond, a powerful yet enigmatic woman overseeing the community’s governance. The Paradise cast also features James Marsden and Sarah Shahi.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Fogelman confessed that he “lied to Disney to buy a couple of weeks of time for Julianne Nicholson.“ Due to a scheduling conflict with another project, Nicholson was initially unavailable. Rather than recasting the role, the This is Us creator orchestrated a delay to accommodate her schedule, misleading the studio into believing the production required additional prep time. Check out Fogelman’s comments below:
She was somebody I wanted from the very beginning. I’d admired her from afar. I didn’t want Sinatra to be like a mustache-twirling villain, I wanted her to be softer, but also quietly commanding. I really wanted Julianne and we Zoomed, I sent her the scripts, and we hit it off. I thought she wanted to do it, and then I got word that she did, and I was so excited. Then it came back to us that there had been a screw-up in communication and she was shooting a film or another series and the dates weren’t going to work.
So I moved heaven and earth. I said, “Can we change the shooting schedule?” and we did a little bit, but it still wasn’t going to work. There was too much overlap. Eventually, I received the call, like, “You have to move on.” I was devastated. I’m saying it now, because it looks like the show might be moderately successful, so no one will care.
But I actually lied to the people at the studio, and I said: “We’re not ready to make the show. We need more time in prep,” which cost a lot of money to extend prep… I made it [seem] about 12 different things, but that allowed for us to delay starting shooting, and allowed Julianne to be free. Now, obviously, everyone’s so glad we did it.
What Fogelman’s White Lie For Paradise Means
The High-Stakes Move Paid Off
Hopefully, Disney doesn’t mind the lie too much, because Fogelman’s gamble ultimately benefited Paradise. Nicholson’s portrayal of Sinatra has become a standout element of the series and has been widely praised by critics for its depth and nuance. Rather than playing a stereotypical antagonist, her performance brings a quietly commanding presence to the role, reinforcing the themes of power and moral ambiguity in Paradise‘s major murder mystery. Nicholson’s Sinatra operates in the shadows away from Collins’ prying eyes—but she’s far from a traditional villain as she prioritizes the safety of the community.
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Hulu’s Paradise Already Has One Major Challenge To Overcome
Paradise, starring Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden, has begun with an intriguing plot twist and a challenge that the show will need to navigate.
Many successful TV series have hinged on actors who were initially unavailable or almost passed over—think Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad or Jon Hamm in Mad Men (via Business Insider). By bending the rules to secure his preferred choice, Fogelman may have ensured Paradise’s credibility and emotional depth, something crucial for a Hulu TV show with intricate political storytelling in a crowded streaming landscape.
Our Take On Fogelman’s Risky Casting Move
A Little White Lie For A Big Win
With Paradise gaining traction and critical praise so quickly, it’s likely that Julianna Nicholson’s casting decision will be seen as a stroke of genius rather than an expensive inconvenience. If the show continues its success, Fogelman’s maneuver will likely be remembered as a small price to pay for an Emmy Award-winning actor like Nicholson (Mare of Easttown). In an industry where creative vision is often compromised by studios wanting to cut corners, it’s refreshing to see the Paradise creator fight for what he believes in—even if it meant a small, white lie.
Source: THR
Paradise
6/10
- Release Date
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January 26, 2025
- Network
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Hulu
- Directors
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Gandja Monteiro
- Writers
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Jason Wilborn
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Sterling K. Brown
Xavier Collins
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Julianne Nicholson
Samantha ‘Sinatra’ Redmond