Exclusive Interview: Jack Whitehall and Paul Walter Hauser Talk The Afterparty Season 2

Jack Whitehall and Paul Walter Hauser are two of the stars of the critically-acclaimed whodunit series, The Afterparty.

From Academy Award winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord, each episode of The Afterparty is a genre-bending comedy that explores a different character’s account of one tragic event, all told through the lens of popular film genres and unique visuals to match the storyteller’s perspective.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Jack and Paul about Season 2 of The Afterparty, grounding their performances, the incredible writing, and more.

Please Note: This interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. We stand in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, and will not be conducting further interviews until a fair deal is reached.

PC: Jack, you’ve always used humor and comedy as a way to connect with people. Why do you think this genre is the perfect way to bridge those connections? What was it about Sebastian that resonated with you and will hopefully resonate with audiences?
Jack: In terms of comedy, there’s never been a time when we’ve needed it more. It’s pretty bleak times at the moment. Everyone is in need of that distraction and that ability to lose themselves in a show like this. That’s why I have always been drawn to comedy. This show is really funny. It engages audiences.

In terms of the character, it felt like a fun challenge to play a dastardly villain. It felt in some ways part of my wheelhouse in terms of other characters that I’ve played before but with these added edges and layers that are revealed in his episode which I thought added another aspect to it. I was really excited to get the opportunity to play with all these incredible actors and Lord and Miller who I’ve been a huge admirer of. It was a no-brainer when this came along.

PC: Paul, throughout your career, you’ve always done a fantastic job grounding your characters. While Travis, who you play in The Afterparty, marches to his own beat and could be this over-the-top figure, it’s his reason for being at the wedding and your portrayal of him that grounds him. How were you able to find that balance so seamlessly and how did you incorporate his motivations throughout the series?
Paul: Thank you. Chris Miller and Phil Lord, the team behind the show, are good at making comedies that have heart, purpose, intricacies, and reason. I was very happy to find that in the scripted pages. There were layers and reasons behind everything. I come from a world, comedically, where I sometimes do something just to get a laugh. A lot of people that I grew up laughing at, like Chris Farley, that was their thing. With Travis, it’s about safeguarding someone that he cares about. It’s not about winning them back like My Best Friend’s Wedding’s storyline, but it’s about protecting them somehow. That’s how it’s grounded. It was nice because I do feel that way about people from my past who I still care about and want to see succeed and be safe. That was a cool, grounded element. If I did a good job, it’s in huge part due to the script and the folks directing me.

PC: Jack, like you were saying earlier, each character is the focal point of an episode and that’s often when a lot is revealed about their respective backstory. But we also learn a lot about who these people are through their interactions with each other. Which relationship plays the biggest development in how you interpreted your own character?
Jack: All of them brought understanding to the character. It’s such a wonderful thing that we had the opportunity over the course of ten episodes to have these interactions with each of the characters. I was lucky enough to start off the filming process by doing a few scenes with Paul. We had a huge amount of fun playing opposite each other. As it progressed, I was able to have these little moments with each of them. I would have felt a bit robbed had I not had that. I’m sure it’s great for the writers who are in the room. As they’re writing these stories and bringing each character into each other’s orbits, it creates a whole new dynamic. It kept it fresh.

PC: Paul, what I love about this series is each episode is told from a different character’s perspective and it’s a reflection of their personality. If you told your own story, what genre would it be and why?
Paul: In my head, I’m ready to give some funny answer, but I’m going to give you a real one because you’re a serious journalist. You ask really thoughtful questions. I’ll say my life would definitely be a dramedy in the vein of Silver Linings Playbook and Little Miss Sunshine. There’s been tears, laughter, and problematic people, myself included, but we’re all trying to survive and find love.

Make sure to follow Jack (Twitter/Instagram) and Paul (Instagram). Binge-watch Season 2 of The Afterparty on Apple TV+ today.