Exclusive Interview: Arlen Escarpeta Talks Zeke’s Inner Conflicts, the Team’s Future, and Season 2’s Intense Journey on ‘Found’

In Season 2 of Found, Arlen Escarpeta returns as Zeke, bringing a powerful mix of vulnerability and strength to his character as the team at Mosely & Associates faces its biggest challenges yet.

In any given year, more than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S., and over half of those are people of color who are often forgotten. Gabi Mosely (series star and producer Shanola Hampton), once one of those forgotten ones, leads a crisis management team dedicated to ensuring the missing are never overlooked. However, Gabi harbors a chilling secret: in a moment of grief, she imprisoned her childhood kidnapper, Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), who has now escaped, turning her biggest secret into her greatest threat.

In this exclusive interview, Arlen dives deep into Zeke’s internal conflicts, the evolving dynamics within the team, and his own journey as an actor. He opens up about collaborating with the writers, tackling Zeke’s trauma, and how this role continues to push and challenge his craft in unexpected ways.

PC: At the end of Season 1, Gabi reveals the secret she’s been hiding from the team, sparking a thought-provoking discussion about whether everything they’ve done, including the people they’ve saved, is now tainted. What’s your perspective on that dilemma, both personally and through the eyes of your characters?
Arlen: It’s funny because I can answer both personally and from Zeke’s perspective. Everything’s been revealed, and we all know that Sir has had a hand in the lives we’ve saved and the good we’ve done. It’s tough because, on one hand, we did good—we helped people, brought them home, and brought people together. That feels amazing. Gabi, herself, has been manipulated; she’s still connected to Sir because he’s kept them tethered. But that doesn’t change how we feel inside. From an outside perspective, everything we’ve done seems great. However, this is more of an internal and moral question: Are we really doing good if someone who isn’t as “good” is involved? We’re going to have to take time to figure that out. It’ll probably take a good season to find that balance and decide what truly matters. Hopefully, we can continue doing good work while challenging ourselves to ask, “If we’re moving forward with this, are we really that good? Are we that capable, or do we need him to complete the equation?” That’s something the entire team needs to figure out. But before we even get there, we need to determine if we still have Mosely & Associates. How do we work together moving forward? How do I work with Gabi, given the lies she’s kept? Even though we now know her truth, it almost feels like she was forced to tell us.

PC: This show is known for sparking deep conversations. In addition to the incredible work you’ve done on screen, you have a strong passion and aspirations to write and direct. One of the benefits of television is the opportunity to grow with your character. As Nkechi [Okoro Carroll] and the writers’ room get to know you, they’re able to infuse elements of yourself into Zeke’s storyline. As you headed into this new season, were there specific aspects of him you were most interested in exploring? How has your collaboration with the writers’ room evolved, allowing you to take agency over his arc and influence other facets of your talent?
Arlen: Going into this season, I knew where we left off in Season 1. I’m someone who never wants to know too much or too little. I don’t want to play the end—I want to play the moment in front of me, but I like to know enough to have a good inner monologue in my head and behind my eyes during those quiet moments.

What Nkechi and the writers did this season was we all sat down and discussed where our characters were headed and where we might go if we get a third season. So, we had a rough outline of what’s ahead. From there, you fall in line with the plan, then let the writers do what they do. You come prepared to work, to take the words and elevate them into a real, emotional, and tangible space for the audience to enjoy and experience.

PC: One of the most compelling aspects of this show is how the team has turned their trauma into purpose, while also highlighting that the healing journey is different for everyone. Your performance is so visceral and moving. Audiences can feel Zeke’s internal conflict—how he physically wants to be there for his team, especially in life-or-death moments, but isn’t able to. As an actor, how did you create the space to explore that vulnerability, particularly in Episode 201? It’s heartbreaking to watch.
Arlen: Navigating Zeke’s trauma and bringing it to the forefront definitely starts with Nkechi and the writers. They’ve given me the tools to work with, and my job is to tie all those elements to myself—how I feel about it, the things I carry, how I move, and how I navigate my own trauma. We all have our own traumas. By connecting to those personal experiences, I’m able to embody Zeke’s agoraphobia and make it my own.

We have a great work environment. Our directors really show up for us—they allow us to create and explore. We’re not boxed in, like Zeke sometimes feels. We have the freedom to play, create, and have deep conversations about the emotional weight we’re all carrying before shooting. With Zeke, it’s always about whether he’s triggered, what triggers him, what mask he’s wearing that day, and when that mask comes off.

In Episode 201, Zeke being outside the hospital is such a visceral and vulnerable moment for him. He’s not in the safe space he’s created, and we get to see what he feels on the inside. All the angst from Season 1 makes you wonder: is he really ready to step outside? He still has a lot of healing to do and much to figure out. It’s going to be a journey, and I’m definitely glad to be part of it—I’m having a great time exploring it.

PC: Credit to you as well, because you make audiences feel that emotion, especially in that scene. This project is so interesting from an acting perspective because so much of what you do as an artist relies on feeding off the energy of your scene partner. But with Zeke, many of his interactions are done through a screen. How has this project pushed and challenged you? What have you learned about your craft?
Arlen: You’re right. A lot of the work I do as Zeke isn’t with another person. Sometimes it’s visual, and when the visual cameras don’t line up, it’s all in my imagination. It requires a lot of listening, which is really the essence of acting—listening and responding accordingly. In that sense, I’m constantly in class with Zeke. I don’t get to look into someone’s eyes; I have to visualize the face and really listen to what’s being said and how it’s being said.

This is something I work on a lot with my acting coach, Catlin Adams. We focus on finding ways to direct yourself in spaces that aren’t always ideal. But I love it—it’s fun and challenging, and I’ve grown a lot from it. I definitely feel like I’m leaving Season 2 with more than I had coming in from Season 1. I’m even more prepared now.

PC: We know you can’t say too much, but throughout the first season, we see a brotherhood form between Zeke and Dhan, and how they hold each other accountable. What impact will that dynamic take if or when it’s revealed that Dhan knew about Gabi’s secret days before the rest of the team?
Arlen: Wow. Dhan and Zeke have definitely developed a trusting and wonderful friendship. Gabi says in the pilot that they’re good for each other. She says, “They’ll figure it out. Can’t you see they’re similar in so many ways? They work.” When Zeke finds out the truth about who knew what and how it all played out, it’s going to be a challenge for him to let go of the people he’s grown to love. Can he stand on his own without holding onto Mosely & Associates? I think that’ll be a key challenge for Zeke in Season 2—finding his own voice, speaking from a place of strength, and not relying on the safety net of Mosely & Associates.

It’ll be good for him, but there will definitely be growing pains. Everything that happens in Episode 201 sets the tone for the rest of the season, and it raises the question: is Zeke ready to make those moves, or will he realize he’s not emotionally prepared? With the team splintering in different directions, how strong will Zeke be when he stands on his own, speaks his mind, and lets them know how he truly feels?

To keep up with Arlen, follow him on Instagram. Season 2 of Found premieres on October 3rd. Stream it the next day on Peacock.

Photo Credit: Kwaku Alston/NBC