Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Paradise season 1.
A Big Little Lies star has joined the cast of Paradise season 2. The Hulu series became a streaming hit in its first season and ended on a major cliffhanger as Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) heads to the surface in search of his wife, Teri Collins (Enuka Okuma). Paradise season 1’s ending saw Xavier discovering the truth about who murdered President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) and preparing to fly a plane as he searches for Teri, who he previously thought had been killed on the day of an apocalyptic event three years earlier.
As per Deadline, Shailene Woodley has now been added to Paradise‘s cast. She is reportedly playing an important survivor who Xavier will encounter on the surface while searching for Teri. Filming for Paradise season 2 has already begun despite the season 1 finale being released on March 4, with creator and showrunner Dan Fogelman previously speaking about wanting a quick turnaround between seasons.
What This Means For Paradise Season 2
Shailene Woodley Could Be Playing The Ally Xavier Needs
Xavier’s journey to the surface requires him to leave behind Paradise‘s cast of characters that were introduced in season 1. This necessitates new characters to be introduced on the surface, and it appears that Woodley will be playing one of those characters. It remains to be seen if she will be more of a friend or foe to Xavier, although he could use an ally as he has lived in an underground community for the last three years, and knows little about how life has changed on the surface.
Related
Paradise’s Mysterious Killer, Explained: Who Killed Cal Bradford, How They Did It, And Why
Paradise has been driven largely by the mystery of who killed Cal Bradford, and the season 1 finale reveals some pretty big twists about it.
Woodley’s character can help Xavier navigate a changed world in Paradise season 2 and potentially even be the key to him reuniting with Teri. On the other hand, Woodley could be playing a new antagonist who will complicate Xavier’s journey and pose a threat to the community he left behind. Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nicholson) feared what would happen if outsiders discovered their location. Her fear could become a reality if Woodley’s character learns of the community and threatens its existence.
Our Take On Shailene Woodley’s Casting
She Is A Good Fit For The Show
Compared to the long hiatuses that usually occur between seasons of a streaming series, it’s refreshing to know that season 2 filming has begun, and to already be learning about new cast members and who they will be playing. Woodley has experience in the dystopian genre through the Divergent franchise, and it will be intriguing to see if she plays a similar or different character in Paradise‘s dystopian story. Her performance in Big Little Lies remains one of my favorites and makes me confident that she has the range to play a helpful or villainous survivor in Paradise‘s next season.
Source: Deadline
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
