Could President Cal Bradford appear in Paradise Season 2? Here’s what series creator said

Fans have been waiting for updates on Paradise Season 2 ever since the first chapter of the hit Hulu series ended on a cliffhanger. One of the major questions that viewers have is whether James Marsden will reprise his role as President Cal Bradford in the next season.

President Cal is killed off in the very first episode of the series but still remains an integral part of the debut season as the story delves into what happened to him via flashbacks. However, the murder mystery is solved by the end of the season, leaving Cal’s future in the show uncertain.

Series creator Dan Fogelman has finally addressed the president’s potential appearance in Paradise Season 2. He said that while James Marsden wants to return, he does not want to forcefully accommodate Cal’s character in the storyline. Fogelman added that if the narrative naturally demands Cal’s presence, then he would be seen in the next season.

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Dan Fogelman talks about Cal Bradford’s potential appearance in Paradise Season 2

Dan Fogelman talked about Cal Bradford’s potential return to Paradise Season 2 in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The showrunner joked that James Marsden wants to return as zombie Cal:

“James has been pitching me 'zombie Cal Bradford,' which we’re not going to do. We killed two characters this season where we loved the characters and obviously loved the actors, and James is amazing and a big part of it all.”

Fogelman added that no character will be appearing in the show just for the heck of it and further stated that there might arise an opportunity where Cal can naturally fit into the story, hinting at some flashback scenes in Paradise season 2:

“I’ve done this before on other shows; what we won’t do and what you can’t do is change your story just to accommodate because you like somebody.”

“Because if the story’s not going in that direction, it just gets worse. But will there be opportunities in real ways to do meaty stuff? I think there is going to be, yes, because it’s going to fit inside of our story.”

Hence, Cal Bradford’s storyline in the show has come to an end, but he could be seen in Paradise Season 2 in flashback sequences based on the narrative’s requirements.

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Cal Bradford’s journey in Paradise

President Cal Bradford is at the center of the narrative in Paradise Season 1. In the past, he personally chose Xavier Collins as his lead Secret Service agent. Collins once took a bullet to protect him, and Cal trusted him with his life.

But everything changes when Collins finds the president dead in his home. The security cameras lack footage of the previous hours, which raises suspicion. Through flashbacks, it is revealed that Cal was not just a president, as he prepared for a disaster that destroyed the world.

He helped build a hidden city inside a mountain to keep a select group of people safe. But his choices created enemies, even among those closest to him. His final days show a man struggling with guilt. In the end, it is found out that Cal was killed by one of the persons who had built the city.

Meanwhile, his death causes a power struggle in the bunker. While some fight to control the underground city, others search for the real truth about the world outside.

The release date of Paradise Season 2 has not been announced yet. All episodes of the first season can be streamed on Hulu.