Paradise cast and character guide: Who plays whom in Hulu's upcoming political crime drama?

An all-new political crime drama Paradise is set to arrive on Hulu this month, featuring acclaimed actor Sterling K. Brown in the leading role. Not only this, but it also reunited Brown with the creator of This Is Us, the popular TV series in which the actor played one of the three siblings, Randall.

Brown is one of the most celebrated actors in the entertainment industry and has received several awards, including Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe. He has been a part of numerous hit projects, and now fans are waiting to see him in Paradise.

The series is scheduled to come out on January 28, 2025, and will have a total of eight episodes. The drama is set in an elite, tranquil neighborhood where some powerful individuals reside. However, they are all left in shock when their calm is shattered by the news of the president's murder.

Since Sterling K. Brown's character is the first one to witness the dead body, he ends up becoming the prime suspect. So, who is Brown playing? Continue reading to explore the cast members involved in the TV series.

Exploring the main cast of Hulu's Paradise TV series

Since Paradise is a few days away from hitting the streamer and stars Sterling K. Brown as the lead, many might be curious about other cast members. While most of the characters' names haven't been disclosed, we do know who's playing the key figures:

1) Sterling K. Brown as Xavier Collins: As seen in the Paradise trailer, Brown's Collins is the head of security for President Cal Bradford. He's also a father of two whose life is going to turn upside down when the president is found dead.

Collins will end up as the prime suspect, and there will be unexpected revelations during the investigation. He also has a family to take care of, and being targeted for the murder would affect his family dynamics.

2) James Marsden as President Cal Bradford: Another key figure who drives the plot is the president. The trailer revealed his dead body lying on the floor, and Paradise is expected to dive into the flashbacks and his backstory to help viewers understand the character.

3) Julianne Nicholson: While her role hasn't been disclosed, Nicholson is expected to play a key figure in the political crime drama. The actress has been a part of several projects, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the 2013 film August: Osage County, and more.

4) Sarah Shahi: Another intriguing character in Paradise is played by The Rookie star Sarah Shahi, who's seen asking Brown's Collin to say yes. As shown in the trailer, Shahi is likely tied to the investigation of the president's murder.

As for the supporting cast members, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, and Percy Dagg IV have joined the cast.

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Dan Fogelman revealed the origin of Paradise

A still from the trailer (Image Source: YT @Hulu)

The creator of Paradise revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly the idea of exploring the relationship between a high-ranking individual and the one responsible for their security. The idea came when Fogelman attended a meeting with a wealthy businessman and was startled by a loud noise from a falling crane.

Fogelman had a strong interest in the idea for years, and now, he has crafted it well. He said:

"The driving place for me was the relationship between those with ultimate power and the people that are charged with protecting them."

The creator continued:

"I thought it could be best covered by the idea of a secret service agent whose job it is to take a bullet for a president — and the complexity of that relationship."

Interestingly, Dan Fogelman had imagined Sterling K Brown in the lead role and wasn't sure if the actor would agree to the project. However, Brown was intrigued by the crop, and the two connected immediately. This way, Fogelman was able to craft an engaging TV series.