‘Shrinking’s Cast Reveal What Happened Behind the Scenes Their First Time Filming with Harrison Ford
The Big Picture
- Collider’s Steve Weintraub speaks with the forged and crew of
Shrinking
at NYCC 2024. - Jason Segel, Brett Goldstein, Christa Miller, Luke Tennie, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley all share their first-scene tales with co-star Harrison Ford.
- Segel and Goldstein additionally talk about the “true north” theme of Season 2, extra character storylines, and hopes for Season 3 and past.
It’s official: Shrinking is coming again for Season 3. The announcement was made solely a day after the first two episodes of Season 2 premiered on Apple TV+ at this yr’s New York Comic Con. Co-creators and stars Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein hit the Main Stage to share the excellent news, joined by fellow forged members Christa Miller, Luke Tennie, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley.
The sequence, which grew to become an enormous hit for the streamer when it debuted in 2023, follows Jimmy (Segel), a therapist who’s managing his personal grief of shedding his spouse. As a results of having to choose up the items of his private life, Jimmy’s skilled coaching takes a backseat to sharing precisely what’s on his thoughts with his sufferers. According to Goldstein, whereas talking with Collider’s Steve Weintraub at NYCC, the writers “always pick a word that is the true north for the season, and this season, it’s forgiveness.” He additionally teases some fuller storylines for much more characters.
While in our media studio, the forged and creatives chat about what followers can count on from not solely Season 2 however how far they’re into planning Season 3. While they could not dish on too a lot this early, we do know when filming will start, and their hopes for persevering with after the third season. Check out the full dialog in the video above or in the transcript beneath for all of this and what it is prefer to share scenes with the iconic Harrison Ford.
The Cast of ‘Shrinking’ Hit the Floor of New York Comic Con
COLLIDER: I really like your present, and I’m so joyful you might be saying as we speak that you just’re getting a Season 3. With the evaluations and the way good the present is, had been you nervous in any respect a few Season 3 or had been you want, “This is gonna happen?”
BRETT GOLDSTEIN: We’ve been writing it for the final three months, so the proven fact that the announcement got here, it was like, “Well, thank fuck we haven’t been wasting all that time.”
Right behind you is New York Comic Con. One of the issues about Comic Con, generally, is folks acquire quite a lot of issues. So for every of you, is there something that you just acquire or something that, in the event you get to stroll the flooring, you’d purchase?
CHRISTA MILLER: My nephew is into Okay-pop and Korean comics, so I’m gonna have to take a look at that. I acquire blue glass from France, and I’ve a complete blue glass assortment.
I do not know in the event you’re gonna discover the blue glass, however you by no means know.
MILLER: You by no means know. There’s an eBay. You by no means know.
LUKE TENNIE: For me, something anime.
JASON SEGEL: I’m suspecting there’s some Muppet stuff round right here, which is type of my wheelhouse. There’s gotta be, proper?
Do you personal these old-school grasp replicas, like the Kermit and stuff like that?
SEGEL: No, I’ve three correct Muppets. I’ve Dracula and Angel from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, after which I’ve the Jason Segel Muppet from The Muppet Movie. Yeah, it’s fairly cool.
JESSICA WILLIAMS: I might do any PS5 controllers, Steam Deck skins, Stardew Valley stuff — any type of cozy gaming stuff I might do.
TED MCGINLEY: Well, years in the past someone got here as much as me and had me signal a doll. It was a Jefferson D’Arcy doll — I had no thought there even was one. So, I’ve been in search of them ever since, and I’m gonna beautify my home with Jefferson D’Arcy dolls. So, that is what I’m in search of. It’s all the time about me.
GOLDSTEIN: There’s one factor that I as soon as noticed after I was little, and I do not know if it nonetheless exists, however a Knight Rider tremendous stunt set. I might see if that they had that.
LUKITA MAXWELL: I might need to get into all the blind bins and take a bunch residence. I simply love blind bins — the ingredient of shock.
MICHAEL URIE: Do they’ve vinyl right here? That can be one thing that I might have the ability to do.
I really do not know. Sometimes, they do, nevertheless it’s not collectible vinyl or hard-to-get vinyl. It’s most likely like a Disney retailer promoting Tron: Legacy .
TENNIE: I really like that film!
That soundtrack is A+. It’s certainly one of my favourite film soundtracks of all time.
TENNIE: Unreal.
WILLIAMS: It’s actually good.
‘Shrinking’ Season 2 Will Focus on Forgiveness
Moving on to your present. There are lots of people on the market who’re followers of the present, however what do you guys need to tease about Season 2 and the themes of Season 2?
SEGEL: We all the time decide a phrase that’s the true north for the season, and this season it is forgiveness. So, every character and every member of the forged is dealing with one thing of their lives that they need to make amends for alongside the method. You’ll see actually full storylines for every of the characters and character arcs of dealing with cleansing up the wreckage of their conduct.
One of the issues that I actually commend you guys on is typically, with a present, not each character looks like they’ve a satisfying three-act arc, and Shrinking does such an incredible job with every character. You really feel such as you’ve grown with each throughout the season. Can you speak about the writing course of and determining easy methods to give every character a satisfying character arc?
GOLDSTEIN: It’s actually exhausting as a result of there are such a lot of characters, and so they’re so nice, all of them. But the pleasure of writing a Season 2 is, after we wrote Season 1, we did not have the forged and did not know who everybody was, so that you’re writing these characters, after which as you make it, these wonderful actors are available in, after which the characters turn out to be half them/half what we have written. So, Season 2 is enjoyable as a result of then you definately’re excited to jot down for all of those folks, and also you get to problem them. With Luke, for instance, he did not get a complete load of humorous in Season 1, and I do know he is humorous.
So, in Season 2, Episode 6, he has an enormous fucking comedy set piece; it’s certainly one of the funniest sequences in the present. It’s thrilling to offer to Luke and go, “Here you go. You’re gonna fucking kill this.” And he does. So, it is joyful and wonderful to jot down for these folks, however it’s troublesome to be sure that everybody has a full story each episode and that all of it pays off in 12 episodes. There’s a giant arc and the small arcs, however that is why it takes six months to jot down. We have boards throughout, like serial killers, round the room, attempting to attach everybody to every little thing.
You’re attempting to say that writing is troublesome? I all the time thought it was only a week of everybody in the writers’ room, and you’ve got 12 scripts.
GOLDSTEIN: [Laughs] Basically, yeah. But additionally, Jason was saying yesterday, too, this forged all work in each mixture, so it is also enjoyable to place two characters collectively who have not spent quite a lot of time collectively, and all of a sudden, it is a complete new double act.
SEGEL: What’s additionally cool is Luke did not simply kill it as a result of he occurred to kill it; Luke confirmed as much as kill it. It’s like Luke bought the script, after which there was a second when he confirmed up on set and he did not say it out loud, nevertheless it was like, “Watch this.” I really feel like everyone did that after they got the materials to do it with, and everyone was this yr. They confirmed up like, “Oh, yeah? Now watch this.” It’s simply folks killing their storylines time and again.
MCGINLEY: By the method, on prime of that, at the finish of that day, led by Harrison Ford, everybody went, “Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke!” It was the most lovely factor. I’ll always remember that.
TENNIE: I cried.
What’s It Like on the Set of ‘Shrinking’ With Harrison Ford?
“It’s Harrison Ford and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I just can’t drop that.”
Speaking of Harrison Ford, like the complete planet, I’m such an enormous fan. I may watch him learn the cellphone guide, and I’d most likely be entertained. For every of you, I do not know in the event you all had scenes with Harrison, however are you able to every speak about being in a scene with him for the first time and what it is like sitting throughout from him whenever you’re doing that first scene?
URIE: I had a scene with him as soon as the place I had the first line and we had been about to shoot and he stated, “Hey, just do me a favor and give me a beat before you say that first line,” and I used to be like, “I’ll do whatever you say.” I did not know what he needed till later after I noticed it. What it was, he inbuilt a second that was just for the digital camera of him interested by, who is aware of what. But it was this second the place we type of see his loneliness and his disappointment, and he simply needed to verify it was in the clear. He has that relationship with the digital camera that’s so private, and so it is actually tight, and I’ve realized a lot from him nearly the relationship with the digital camera. It was fairly particular.
MCGINLEY: I had my first scene with Harrison, only one on one, and I used to be a wreck as a result of they’ve completed it so nicely, seamlessly, all of them, however for me, it is Harrison Ford and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I imply, I simply can’t drop that. So, I used to be so apprehensive about going into the scene and attempting to be Derek. So, we went by means of a rehearsal and I used to be a nervous wreck. I bought by means of the scene, and I felt so good. Afterward, he got here by and stated, “This is gonna be good.” Then we did the scene, however beforehand, he did not say a phrase to me, going, “Let’s go!” And I assumed, “Oh, God. Please, God, let me get through this.” Got by means of it, and he got here by and stated, “It’s gonna be okay.” And then it was a lot enjoyable. Literally, two years in the past, I spent my total life questioning, “What would it be like to be in a scene with Harrison Ford?” And I made it. I put that one right here, and it will by no means go away. I stated, “I’m keeping that one forever,” as a result of ultimately, I made it someplace, and that was fairly cool.
MILLER: I believe, additionally, Harrison dispels any… You neglect that he is Harrison Ford straight away. He’s with this forged, joking round, busting chops, saying, “This is so fun! Can’t wait to shoot this piece of shit.” Harrison’s my neighbor so I sort of know him a bit of bit, however my first scene with him, I used to be nervous, and Bill [Lawrence] wasn’t there. He was on set for Bad Monkey on the first season, and I used to be like, “Bill’s not here. I don’t know what’s going on.” We simply began the present, you do not know what is going on on. And Harrison drove his golf cart — we had been on location on Warner Bros. — and he is taken the governor off, so you’ll be able to drive it, like, 400 miles an hour. He drove me 400 miles an hour, his assistant’s falling off the again, and by the time we bought there, I used to be like, “Alright, then it’s gonna be fun. I’m gonna be fine.” I removed my nervousness.
GOLDSTEIN: I might simply say, opposite to what Christa stated, I do not neglect for a second that’s Harrison Ford. Every single second that I’m speaking to him, I’m nonetheless, two to 3 years later, going, “Fucking hell, I’m talking to Harrison Ford!” [Laughs]
TENNIE: I really feel that method about all of y’all, simply to be trustworthy. One of my favourite reminiscences with Harrison was I simply keep in mind seeing him in the morning; we did not have a scene, however he was ending up after I set to work. I used to be like, “Hey, man, how you doing?” [Imitates Ford’s] “Doing really good. Good.” And then I used to be like, “You like it?” [Imitates Ford] “Best job I’ve ever had.” And I really feel the identical method. So, that was only a cool second. I used to be glad to listen to that from him.
SEGEL: Harrison’s assistant’s identify can be Jason, and so generally throughout Season 1, I might textual content Harrison, like, “Hey man, it was a really great scene today and I’m really honored to be working with you.” Then there’d be an extended pause, after which I’d get a textual content again that claims, like, “Thank you. You too. Also, my dry cleaning is gonna be ready at 8:30 pm. If you could drop it off in the trailer…” [Laughs] And I spotted that I used to be in his cellphone as “Jason – Shrinking.” And that is the way it went for about six months.
Related
‘Shrinking’ Season 1 Recap: What To Remember Before Season 2
Therapy such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than.
WILLIAMS: It’s enjoyable. I do not know if he is ever completed any scenes with any millennial Black women earlier than in his complete profession, so it is actually enjoyable to only have the ability to try this. The writers are nice. They have me say quite a lot of loopy shit to him, like speak to him about protected dick and he has to say it again. So, it is actually pleasant, and it is very nice that Paul and Gaby’s relationship is so candy and tender. The method Gaby feels about Paul is similar to the method I really feel about Harrison, so it is very nice to have the veil of Gaby and Paul to have the ability to work together with him. It really makes enjoying that relationship tremendous straightforward to me. It’s certainly one of the best components of the present for me is doing stuff with him as a result of the writers write it so nicely.
MAXWELL: My first scene with Harrison, I really feel like I had excessive panic to the level of utmost dissociation, and I simply didn’t give it some thought going into it. Then, I skilled the identical factor as Christa. I really feel like whenever you begin working with him, he is simply actually current and offers every little thing to the scene, and is absolutely beneficiant and listens. But earlier than we even began capturing the scene, he came visiting to my seat and requested if I needed to run traces, and that was the first, “Okay. Yeah. Yeah, let’s do it.”
Lots of people do not realize that it is so uncommon for somebody to be this beneficiant this far into their profession.
SEGEL: He dispels any sense of awe actually shortly, and that is most likely a instrument. I do not suppose he is focused on it. He does not need your awe; he desires your collaboration. It’s the greatest feeling. He makes you are feeling like a recent. What a sense.
One of the issues about this present is that lots of people who’re watching have most likely by no means been to remedy, however this present is definitely giving them remedy with out realizing they’re getting it. I really feel like I’m studying about myself as I watch, since you’re analyzing issues. Talk a bit of bit about the proven fact that there are most likely lots of people who’re getting helped watching the present with out even realizing that they are getting remedy.
MILLER: That’s such a stunning factor to say, by the method. That makes me really feel actually good.
GOLDSTEIN: That’s such a stunning factor to say.
URIE: I believe a lot of that’s that it is completed by means of humor, so it makes it palatable. It’s like a spoonful of sugar as a result of we’re dealing with actually heavy stuff. The issues that the characters are going by means of are massive issues, and all of the characters have such nice senses of humor and deal with them with humor. I’m listening to from folks, too, who’re saying, “This show helps me,” which is so, so transferring.
There are gonna be people who find themselves gonna watch the present who’ve misplaced somebody of their life to drunk driving, and it is gonna be very actual as they watch this, and it would fire up some reminiscences and emotions, and I’m curious, in the writing course of, what was it like determining easy methods to write this character into the present, realizing that it’s good to make it actual but additionally relatable?
GOLDSTEIN: A whole lot of it was analysis. The place to begin is studying and listening to numerous private accounts of this sort of factor occurring and other people affected by it on each side. I do not need to sound type of pretentious, however I’m gonna say it is an act of empathy, proper? It’s that you just take a look at a broad spectrum of this and then you definately apply it to the world that we now have created in Shrinking and attempt to put your self in the house of all of those folks. I hope that why it is an fascinating and difficult story is that the thought of forgiveness is simple. It’s a straightforward idea, however we put it into this world, and also you go, “We will totally understand if Jimmy says I do not forgive this person for once.” I believe it is such a sophisticated and massive thought. I do not suppose we, as an viewers, will go, “Oh, Jimmy, come on!” I believe we’ll go, “Fair enough.” It’s troublesome, and I believe that that is an fascinating factor to discover. Hopefully we now have completed it with care and love and real empathy for the complete actuality of it.
When Does ‘Shrinking’ Season 3 Begin Filming?
You stated you have been writing Season 3 for just a few months already. Do you realize whenever you’re gonna hopefully begin filming Season 3?
GOLDSTEIN: I consider we’ll begin filming someday in January.
It’s not to this point off.
GOLDSTEIN: We’ve written half of it.
When I spoke to Bill, he stated initially, you guys had considered this as a three-season arc, however then he stated, “You never know.” Is it nonetheless a three-season?
MCGINLEY: Five seasons now. [Laughs]
WILLIAMS: I do not need to know from them proper now.
Oh, for actual?
WILLIAMS: Yeah. I’m so anxious about it.
Bill made it appear to be it may go longer.
WILLIAMS: I really like listening to that.
TENNIE: I hope so.
SEGEL: We all prefer to make nice work, and I really feel like so long as everyone seems to be making nice work, and we really feel like there are tales to be informed, there’s all the time room to discover extra. But I believe it is truthful to say it is all depending on work being nice.
Shrinking Season 2 is out there to stream on Apple TV+.
A grieving therapist begins to inform his shoppers precisely what he thinks. Ignoring his coaching and ethics, he finds himself making big modifications to folks’s lives – together with his personal.
Watch on Apple TV