Paradise is an American post-apocalyptic political thriller television series created by Dan Fogelman and starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, and James Marsden. It was released on Hulu in the United States on January 26, 2025. The series has received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its premise, writing, and performances (particularly those of Brown, Nicholson, and Marsden). At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Brown, Nicholson, and Marsden. In February 2025, the series was renewed for a second season, scheduled to premiere on February 23, 2026. == Premise == Set in a city-sized underground bunker in Colorado three years after a doomsday event, the series follows United States Secret Service agent Xavier Collins as he seeks to discover the truth behind the killing of the President of the United States. As Xavier comes under suspicion for President Bradford's death, he searches for answers about what really happened, and is unsure whom he can trust as his questions lead to many shocking revelations. == Cast == === Main === Sterling K. Brown as Xavier Collins, the lead special agent on the president's Secret Service security detail Julianne Nicholson as Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond, the world's richest self-made woman and the chief decision maker in the bunker Sarah Shahi as Gabriela Torabi, a psychotherapist and grief specialist Nicole Brydon Bloom as Jane Driscoll, a special agent who is a member of the president's Secret Service detail Aliyah Mastin as Presley Collins, Xavier's teenage daughter Percy Daggs IV as James Collins, Xavier's 10-year-old son James Marsden as Cal Bradford, the president of the United States, Secret Service code name "Wildcat", found murdered and seen alive only in flashbacks === Recurring === Jon Beavers as Billy Pace, a special agent who is a member of the president's Secret Service detail and a former mercenary Krys Marshall as Nicole Robinson, a Secret Service SAIC who was having an affair with President Bradford Cassidy Freeman as Jessica Bradford, the first lady of the United States and Cal's estranged wife Gerald McRaney as Kane Bradford, the president's dementia-afflicted father and a former oil baron Enuka Okuma as Teri Rogers-Collins, a doctor and Xavier's wife, who is presumed dead since the disaster Richard Robichaux as Carl, a neighbor of Collins who works in the dome light control station Matt Malloy as Henry Baines, the vice president of the United States and Bradford's designated successor Charlie Evans as Jeremy Bradford, the president's teenage son Ian Merrigan as Trent, the Liberty Grove librarian Michelle Meredith as Maggie, the lead waitress at the Liberty Grove diner == Episodes == === Series overview === === Season 1 (2025) === === Season 2 === == Production == In April 2023, it was reported that Hulu had commissioned the series by 20th Television written by Dan Fogelman who is also executive producer via Rhode Island Ave. Productions, along with Jess Rosenthal. Sterling K. Brown and John Hoberg are also executive producers. Brown was also expected to star in the series. In February 2024, James Marsden was cast as the president, with Julianne Nicholson and Sarah Shahi also joining the cast. In November 2024, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin and Percy Daggs IV joined the cast. In February 2025, Hulu renewed the series for a second season. In March 2025, Shailene Woodley joined the second season in a recurring role. In April 2025, Thomas Doherty, Michael McGrady, and Timothy Omundson were added to the cast of the second season as recurring guest stars. In June 2025, Ryan Michelle Bathe joined the second season in a guest capacity. In October 2025, Patrick Fischler joined the cast in a recurring capacity for the second season. Filming began under the title Paradise City in Los Angeles in February 2024. Production on the second season began in March 2025. == Release == Paradise premiered on Hulu early on January 26, 2025. The series was originally set to premiere with the first three episodes on January 28, 2025. Internationally, the series was released on Disney+. ABC aired the first season starting April 7, 2025. In December 2025, it was announced the second season would premiere with the release of its first 3 episodes on February 23, 2026, with subsequent episodes planned to be released weekly. == Reception == === Viewership === The premiere of Paradise drew 1.4 million viewers in a special 10:09 p.m. broadcast on ABC on January 29, according to Nielsen's Live + 5 Day ratings. Its cable debut on FX on February 1 at 10 p.m. attracted 250,000 viewers per Live + 2 Day data. Hulu reported that the show's TikTok account received the most views and shares among first-season scripted Hulu shows in the past twelve months. The Walt Disney Company announced that the premiere episode of Paradise garnered seven million views globally within its first nine days of streaming. Luminate, which measures streaming performance in the U.S. by analyzing viewership data, audience engagement metrics, and content reach across various platforms, calculated that Paradise was the ninth most-streamed show from Q1 2025, with 3.9 billion minutes of watch time. Paradise debuted on Hulu's "Top 15 Today"—a daily updated list of the platform's most-watched titles—on its release day and remained on the list for its entire first week. JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 45 million active users across more than 4,500 services worldwide, reported that the show was the top streaming series in the U.S. from January 27 to February 2. It was also the top-ranked show in Canada during the same week. Paradise remained the most-streamed series in the U.S. from February 24 to March 2. Analytics company Samba TV, which gathers viewership data from certain smart TVs and content providers, announced that Paradise was the third most-streamed program in the U.S. from February 3—9. The streaming aggregator Reelgood, which tracks 20 million monthly viewing decisions across all U.S. streaming platforms for original and acquired content on SVOD and AVOD services, reported that it was the second most-streamed series during the week of February 13. It subsequently reached the first place for the week ending February 27. Paradise also ranked No. 1 on Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list on March 7. Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, reported that from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, Paradise was streamed for a total of 97.4 million hours. === Critical response === On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 80 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "Teeming with heady concepts and themes, Paradise is an overstuffed but addictively ambitious reunion of Sterling K. Brown and creator Dan Fogelman." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 69 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Amy Amatangelo of Paste rated Paradise 9 out of 10 and said it showcases Dan Fogelman's talent for emotional manipulation, drawing viewers in with engaging storytelling and emotional depth. She complimented Sterling K. Brown's performance, noting his ability to convey stoic rage, while James Marsden was lauded for his portrayal of a complex and flawed character. Amatangelo appreciated the series' blend of family drama and sci-fi mystery, with its underground society setting offering an intriguing twist. She stated that while the show's premise may fall apart under close scrutiny, it remains an enjoyable, fast-paced thriller with strong performances and a nostalgic love for the '80s and '90s. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian gave the show 4 out of 5 stars and described it as a highly entertaining and thought-provoking thriller, with standout performances from Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden. She praised the series' mix of a classic American setting and a gripping plot that unfolds through flashbacks, where the investigation into the president's death reveals personal and political tensions. Mangan found the character-driven storytelling engaging, with an exploration of psychological depth, grief, and trust. She stated that Paradise balances a well-crafted whodunnit with emotional complexity and that Brown's performance adds gravitas to the series. Josh Rosenberg of Esquire complimented Paradise for its intriguing blend of political-espionage and sci-fi elements, and found its premise and its mysterious technological backdrop refreshing, noting that it evokes the feel of early 2000s sci-fi dramas. He stated that while the series could potentially fumble its concept, the reunion of Sterling K. Brown and creator Dan Fogelman brings significant promise, with Brown's performance adding depth to the show. Rosenberg suggested Paradise has staying power due to its ambitious storytelling and strong performances, though he acknowledged the difficulty of recommending shows that take such narrative risks. Peter Travers of ABC News praised Sterling K. Brown's performance and found the time-jumping structure intriguing, with James Marsden's portrayal of the murdered president offering humor and heart in flashbacks. He stated that the show's dystopian setting and soap opera elements provide an engaging, though at times confusing, viewing experience. While Paradise is not considered brilliant, Travers noted that it is "wonderfully bingeable" and ideal for viewers seeking escapism. === Accolades === == Notes == == References == == External links == Paradise on Hulu Paradise at IMDb