‘Paradise’ Creator Confirms No Zombies in the Apocalypse

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Unfortunately, fans of Paradise won’t encounter any zombies in the show’s second season. With popular and well-made zombie series like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us already on TV (the latter even winning Emmys!), and even shows like Fallout incorporating similar creatures, the market is saturated. While Sterling K. Brown’s character, Xavier, will uncover unexpected things when he ventures outside the bunker, zombies won’t be among them, according to creator Dan Fogelman.

While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Fogelman ruled out the fan theory, explaining:

We can assure you, there are no zombies! However, the plan all along was to introduce more science fiction elements as the show progressed, and season two really starts to explore that direction.

What Else Can We Expect in Season 2 of ‘Paradise’?

The first season of Paradise revolved around the investigation into the President’s murder, led by Xavier. The season’s biggest twist came when it was revealed the town where the murder occurred was secretly a hidden facility designed to protect a select group of people from a worldwide apocalypse. The second season concluded with Xavier learning his wife, believed to be dead, had actually survived, prompting him to venture out into the dangerous world to find her.

Fogelman added of Season 2:

I constantly have to refocus on the original plan, because it’s a bit daunting at times. There’s a moment when it hits you – people are really connecting with the show, and we’re expanding to new settings and storylines. That can be scary, making you question things. But we made a point of following the plan I initially presented to Sterling, the one that outlined the entire three-season arc, and we stayed true to it.

Even though Marsden’s character died in the first season, he’ll appear in more flashback scenes in Season 2. The new season will also introduce actors Shailene Woodley and Thomas Doherty. According to creator Fogelman, the season will begin by focusing on Woodley’s character—a survivor of the apocalyptic event—and will continue the story almost right after the first season ended.

Fogelman explained that this season of the show is different from the first because many of the initial mysteries have been resolved. Several beloved characters from season one are now gone, preventing a simple repeat of the original storyline. Instead of focusing on past secrets, the new season centers on entirely new questions, like what lies ahead for the characters and whether Xavier’s wife is still alive. These were not the main questions driving the plot in the first season, but they are now at the forefront.

Paradise Season 2 premieres on Hulu on February 23, 2026.

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2025-12-19 00:32