Who’s Joining Sterling K. Brown For Hulu’s Sci-Fi Thriller

Although 2025 was stacked with huge shows all throughout the year, very few stood out quite as much as Hulu’s Paradise. The post-apocalyptic thriller was filled with tension and mystery, creating an exciting new narrative that had viewers hooked, hence why there was such a high demand for season 2, which was subsequently confirmed before season 1 even finished releasing.

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Not only was Paradise one of Hulu’s best shows of 2025, but it was arguably the breakout series of the year, with the ending creating room for plenty more story. While the entire first outing took place inside an underground city — outside of flashbacks — season 2 will explore outside this community, making room for some fresh faces.

Paradise Actor	Read Also 3 day ago Stardew Valley-Spieler entdeckt geheimen Bereich mit versteckter Belohnung nach 10 Jahren 11 german11 Character
Sterling K. Brown	Xavier Collins
Shailene Woodley	Annie
Julianne Nicholson	Sinatra
James Marsden	Cal Bradford
Nicole Brydon Bloom	Jane Driscoll
Thomas Doherty	Link
Krys Marshall	Nicole Robinson
Sarah Shahi	Gabriela
Aliyah Mastin	Presley Collins
Percy Daggs IV	James Collins
Charlie Evans	Jeremy Bradford
Matt Malloy	Henry Baines
Enuka Okuma	Teri Rogers-Collins
Michael McGrady	Geiger
Timothy Omundson	Chef

Sterling K. Brown As Xavier Collins

Date Of Birth: April 5, 1976

Actor: Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Sterling K. Brown appeared in several projects throughout the early 2000s before finding a recurring role as Officer Dade in Third Watch. From here, Brown’s career went from strength to strength, becoming a reliable name, particularly in the drama sphere.

He has lent his talents to voice acting as well, even picking up an Emmy nomination for his performance as Angstom Levy in Invincible. In 2024, Brown became an Oscar-nominated actor, proving himself as one of the most reliable names in the industry.

Character: Sterling K. Brown plays Xavier Collins in Paradise, the show’s protagonist. Xavier is a loving father willing to do just about anything to protect his children, and he was also the head of security for President Cal Bradford prior to his assassination, who’s stoic personality and determination to find the truth make Paradise a must-watch sci-fi thriller.

Shailene Woodley As Annie

Date Of Birth: November 15, 1991

Actor: From San Bernardino, California, Shailene Woodley had her very first role at the age of 7, before cementing herself as a child star four years later. Hollywood has been far from an easy ride for Woodley, yet she has continuously excelled in numerous different roles, with Paradise offering yet another chance to reinvent herself.

Her performances in The Descendants and Big Little Lies earned her a plethora of nominations across different ceremonies — including an Emmy — highlighting her unquestionable talent.

Character: Shailene Woodley will portray newcomer Annie in season 2 — a survivor from outside the show’s underground community. Details about the character have been kept quiet, but we do know she is a former tour guide at Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion and will help Xavier track down his wife, suggesting she will be a key ally going forward.

Julianne Nicholson As Sinatra

Date Of Birth: July 1, 1971

Actor: Julianne Nicholson was born in Medford, Massachusetts. In her earlier years, she was a student at Hunter College, where she studied French and Anthropology before pursuing acting. Since landing her first role in the late 90s, Nicholson hasn’t looked back, remaining active ever since and stacking up countless credits.

Like her Paradise costars, she’s an incredibly decorated talent, winning Emmys for her roles in Mare of Easttown and Hacks, not to mention the countless other award nominations she’s had.

Character: Julianne Nicholson’s character, Samantha Redmond, AKA Sinatra, is one of Paradise‘s main antagonists. Having learned about the world-threatening disaster poised to hit Earth, Sinatra oversaw the construction of the show’s underground community, which was designed for a select few.

Although her intentions have always been to preserve humanity, her methods of doing so have crossed several lines, with her many secrets showing how morally corrupt she truly is, making Sinatra a menacing threat in season 2.

James Marsden As Cal Bradford

Date Of Birth: September 18, 1973

Image via Hulu

Actor: James Marsden is one of the biggest household names associated with Paradise, as he’s been part of some huge projects. Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Marsden has had a pretty prolific career, having appeared in franchises like X-Men, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Anchorman, just to name a few.

Over 30 years into his career, his highest-grossing movie seems like it’s yet to come, as James Marsden will appear as Cyclops in Avengers: Doomsday, 26 years after first portraying the hero. As if his resume wasn’t impressive enough, he also has two Emmy nominations, adding to Paradise‘s already stacked cast.

Notable Movie & TV Roles
Movie & TV Show Title	Role
X-Men	Cyclops
Sonic the Hedgehog	Tom
The Notebook	Lon Hammond
Westworld	Teddy Flood

Character: Interestingly, James Marsden’s character, President Cal Bradford, plays a much different role than the rest of Paradise‘s cast. Given that his murder kicks off the entire plot, he doesn’t have an active role in season 1’s present timeline, yet he is still a crucial part of the overall narrative.

Why he was killed, and his role in trying to save America, leaves behind plenty of clues for Xavier and other characters to uncover throughout the series. The flashback sequences involving Bradford also provided some of Paradise‘s best moments, meaning his return for season 2 should continue making him key to the story from beyond the grave.

Nicole Brydon Bloom As Jane Driscoll

Date Of Birth: March 23, 1994

Image via Hulu

Actor: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Nicole Brydon Bloom is by far one of the newer actors on the scene to be involved in Paradise, yet she has a huge role nonetheless. Bloom began studying journalism when she first enrolled at Elon University, but wound up graduating with an acting degree in 2017.

Her career has slowly progressed, with more and more prolific projects landing her way in recent years, where she has continued to establish herself as a rising talent.

Notable Movie & TV Roles
Movie & TV Show Title	Role
The Gilded Age	Maud Beaton
Paradise	Jane Driscoll
1BR	Sarah
We Were the Lucky Ones	Caroline

Character: Despite seeming like a relatively sweet and innocent member of Xavier’s security team, Nicole Brydon Bloom’s Jane has many darker secrets hidden away. The truth about her character completely reshaped the series during season 1’s final few episodes, and her sociopathic tendencies make her a true wild card ahead of the thriller’s return.

With Paradise season 2 promising to explore Jane’s backstory, she is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Thomas Doherty As Link

Date Of Birth: April 21, 1995

Actor: From Edinburgh, Scotland, Thomas Doherty is one of Hollywood’s most exciting rising stars, as the 30-year-old has already been in a number of notable projects. Earning his first credit in 2013’s Dracula, Doherty has gone on to appear in shows like Gossip Girl and Tell Me Lies, and he’s also an established singer, making his upcoming role particularly intriguing.

Notable Movie & TV Roles
Movie & TV Show Title	Role
The Invitation	De Ville
Gossip Girl	Max Wolfe
Tell Me Lies	Leo
Descendants 2 & 3	Harry

Character: Alongside Shailene Woodley, Thomas Doherty’s Link is the other big newcomer to Paradise. Once again, details on this character are limited, but he appears to be a gang leader who will attempt to infiltrate the underground community and expose its secrets, one way or another.

It remains unclear whether he is friend or foe, but either way, Doherty looks destined to be an excellent addition to the show’s second season.

Krys Marshall As Nicole Robinson

Date Of Birth: January 20, 1989

Image via Hulu

Actor: Krys Marshall was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and had her first breakout role in 2009 on an episode of Criminal Minds. Since then, she has continued to feature in several notable projects, popping up in episodes of How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, Shameless, and she even appeared in an episode of Paradise creator Dan Fogelman’s hit series, This Is Us.

Notable Movie & TV Roles
Movie & TV Show Title	Role
For All Mankind	Danielle Poole
Paradise	Nicole Robinson
Supergirl	Julia Freeman

Character: Krys Marshall plays Nicole Robinson in Paradise, a ruthless Secret Service Agent with strong morals. She is strict and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, yet is always willing to put herself on the line to do what is right, such as helping Xavier expose Sinatra.

Robinson’s affair with President Bradford adds an extra layer to her character, and she looks bound to play another important part in the upcoming season.

Paradise Season 2 Supporting Cast & Characters

Image via Hulu

Sarah Shahi as Gabriela — Sarah Shahi plays Gabriela, the community’s therapist and grief specialist. She is committed to making the bunker feel pleasant and reminding Paradise‘s residents of the world before, while also acting as a minor love interest for Xavier. Having been acting since the 2000s, Shahi is best known for her roles in Person of Interest, Fairly Legal, and Black Adam.

Aliyah Mastin as Presley Collins — Presley Collins is Xavier’s oldest child, played by Aliyah Mastin. Her adventurous personality saw her develop a relationship with Jeremy Bradford and end up with the President’s tablet at the end of Paradise episode 5, unintentionally bringing herself into Sinatra’s crosshairs.

Percy Daggs IV as James Collins — James Collins is Xavier’s son and Presley’s brother, who plays a much smaller role in season 1. He has a rather timid yet sometimes hostile personality, and with his father leaving the community, he may step up and have a deeper storyline when the show returns.

Charlie Evans as Jeremy Bradford — Despite being the son of the American President, Jeremy resented his father while he was alive, before gaining a greater appreciation for him after he passed. Having joined the movement to expose the community’s elite, Jeremy will be a source of inspiration, yet also a potential target going forward.

Matt Malloy as Henry Baines — Matt Malloy takes on the role of Henry Baines in Paradise, the new President following Cal’s death. He is an anxious and cowardly figure who is more of a public face than an actual person of power, yet enjoys the luxuries that come with being one of the elite. Alongside being a decorated actor, Malloy is also an experienced film producer.

Enuka Okuma as Teri Rogers-Collins — Having appeared briefly as Dr. Teri Rogers-Collins in season 1, Enuka Okuma is set to return as Xavier’s wife in season 2. While this will likely be through flashbacks, there is a chance Teri is still alive, especially since she comes across as a driven and resourceful woman capable of surviving such a tragedy.

Michael McGrady as Geiger — Michael McGrady is yet another newcomer to Paradise season 2 and will supposedly play Link’s right-hand man, Geiger. The actor has been active since the 80s and is best known for his performance in Ray Donovan alongside his theater work.

Timothy Omundson as Chef — Rounding off the new additions, Timothy Omundson is also set to appear in Paradise season 2 as a character called Chef. Omundson previously worked with creator Dan Fogelman on This Is Us and has appeared in the likes of Mission Impossible III as well as Psych.

Release Date

January 26, 2025

Network

Hulu

Showrunner

Dan Fogelman

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  Sterling K. Brown

  Xavier Collins

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  Julianne Nicholson

  Samantha ‘Sinatra’ Redmond

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