Paradise: 11 Interesting Facts About the Hulu TV Series
Paradise has continued to shock and surprise since its jaw-dropping pilot, which thrust the characters (and audience) into a post-apocalyptic world.
If you cannot get enough of its many twists and turns, and find yourself rooting for many of its characters, I’ve dug deep to fill the Paradise-shaped hole in your heart with some fun trivia.
Become a true fan of the show by checking out the following eleven interesting facts about the hit Hulu TV series.
1. Paradise Was Written with Sterling K. Brown in Mind
Dan Fogelman, the creator and writer of Paradise, had been developing the series idea for over a decade. As he had developed a close bond with Sterling K. Brown due to spending six seasons together on This Is Us, he cast the acclaimed actor in the lead role of the post-apocalyptic drama.
Aware he was onto something special, Fogelman emailed the Paradise script to Brown, with a note stating, “wrote it for/picturing you.”
However, he wrote Xavier Collins differently from Randall Pearson, helping Brown move away from “sensitive dad” roles and showcase his extensive acting range.
To do so, he developed Xavier as a quiet yet strong and physically capable Secret Service agent.
Sterling K. Brown also commented that Fogelman told him he wrote the role with his voice in his head.
2. Sterling K. Brown Had One Request Before Joining the Cast
As Sterling K. Brown has a young family, he agreed to sign as the show’s lead if production moved to LA.
It is often cheaper for TV studios to film in Atlanta or Toronto, which is why Fogelman encouraged Brown to request “shooting in LA” during contract negotiations, and it was formally included in his contract.
His plan worked, and moving the series likely cost millions more to produce each episode.
3. Fogelman Hired a Sociologist to Write the Script
Have you often thought that the corruption, chaos, and drama are quite realistic in Paradise? Well, that’s because Dan Fogelman hired Jonathan Mijs, a Boston University sociologist, to help design a perfect yet eerie post-apocalyptic world society.
After watching Mijs’ TED Talk discussing meritocracy and inequality, Fogelman reached out to discuss the TV series.
To improve the show’s realism, Mijs dedicated six months to writing a white paper for use in the writers’ room.
4. Carnival is the Same Town as Star Hollow in the Gilmore Girls
Avid Gilmore Girls fans might recognise the town of Carnival in Paradise, as it’s the same set used for the town of Star Hollow.
It might be hard to believe that the intense and eerie town can be the same set used for the charming, cosy Gilmore Girls world.
Yet the shows were both filmed on the same Midwest Business and Residential Street at the backlot of Warner Bros. Studios.
5. The Colorado Underground Interior Was Filmed in a World War II Hangar
The expansive Colorado Underground interior was reportedly filmed at Tustin Blimp Hangar #2, which is a World War II-era hangar.
It is believed to be one of the world’s largest wooden structures, helping to depict the epic scale of the show’s dome without a reliance on CGI.
6. Gary the Mailman Played Ed Kemper in Mindhunter
Does Gary the Mailman from season two of Paradise look familiar? You may have seen the talented actor, Cameron Britton, in David Fincher’s superb crime thriller Mindhunter, which was wrongly cancelled by Netflix.
Britton took on the role of serial killer Ed Kemper, which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination.
However, if you have watched Episode 5 of Season Two of Paradise (spoiler alert!), you will have seen Britton channel some of this dark energy into the role.
7. Music is a Huge Part of the Show’s Drama
You might not realise that music is a huge part of Paradise’s drama. During the first three episodes of season one, a song was played by the original artist in the middle of an episode, followed by a more haunting version by another singer during the last couple of minutes.
The pilot is a prime example. During the first episode, “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins is played as James and Cal discuss his wife’s death in a flashback.
As the episode closes and the underground bunker is revealed, an alternative version by Cat vs Cat and Joyner is played, helping to depict the eeriness of the post-apocalyptic setting.
8. CGI is Used to Create Vibrant Green Grass
The town of Carnival’s vibrant green grass was written into the Paradise script, which says it is so perfect that it looks fake.
To do so, production initially intended to spray paint grass with a green-tinted food colouring, but safety experts prevented them from doing so.
They were concerned the actors would unknowingly breathe its fumes when filming on the sound stage.
For this reason, production opted to use CGI to create neon-green grass that remains unchanged every season.
9. A Realistic Graceland
If you’ve ever visited Graceland, you might think the Paradise version is a realistic replica of Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis, Tennessee.
The faux Graceland features many like-for-like rooms, such as the Jungle Room, which is thanks to production designer Kevin Bird and his talented team.
When discussing his work, Producer John Heberg commented, “He is an absolute magician. They were able to build something that felt very much like Graceland.”
It has been reported that the only obvious difference between the real and TV versions is that the Graceland couch in Paradise is two inches longer.
The set is so similar that Zoe Hay, Paradise’s head of makeup, visited the real Graceland and sent a photo to producers of her on Elvis’s shag carpet, and they couldn’t tell if it was taken on the set or at the real property in Memphis.
10. Season 2’s Stacy is Played by Sterling K. Brown’s Wife
Sterling K. Brown’s wife, Ryan Michelle Bathe, will soon appear in season two of Paradise.
It was announced earlier this year that she would join the cast as a guest star, taking on the role of Stacy.
According to Bathe, Stacy is a “soft woman in a masculine world” and is expected to be part of a heart-wrenching moment in season two.
11. Season 3 of Paradise is Expected to Be the Last
Paradise is expected to have a three-season arc, meaning the show is likely to end in 2027.
Season one focused on the bunker, season two followed life outside, and season three will see the two worlds collide.
Filming for season three of Paradise is scheduled to begin in late March 2026, and it’s predicted to end in the middle of August 2026.
Fans might be hoping that the writers and Hulu will change their minds, but Paradise’s producer, John Hoberg, recently stated the planned ending would make season four “very difficult” to justify.
Dan Fogelman has a history of sticking to his word, as he finished This is Us the way he planned, despite fans wanting more of the much-loved drama.
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