Unleashing Unscripted Laughter: The Afterparty's Season 2 Brings Jack Whitehall & Paul Walter Hauser's Improv Skills and Hitchcockian Thrills

In The Afterparty season 2, Aniq and Zoë reach out to Detective Danner for assistance when they become entangled in yet another murder investigation. This time, Zoë's family is the main suspect after her sister's newlywed husband is found dead at their wedding. Detective Danner, Aniq, and Zoë must act swiftly to search for clues and interrogate wedding guests, determined to identify the true culprit before Zoë's family is wrongly arrested for the crime.

The Afterparty season 2 boasts an impressive cast that includes Elizabeth Perkins, Zach Woods, Paul Walter Hauser, Poppy Liu, Anna Konkle, Jack Whitehall, Vivian Wu, Ken Jeong, and John Cho. Sam Richardson, Tiffany Haddish, and Zoë Chao reprise their roles from the first season of The Afterparty. Chris Miller, the creator, serves as an executive producer alongside Phil Lord and Anthony King.

Jack Whitehall & Paul Walter Hauser on The Afterparty Season 2

Jack Whitehall and Paul Walter Hauser sat down with Screen Rant to discuss the highly anticipated second season of The Afterparty. Whitehall opened up about his unique approach to portraying his character in varying genres throughout each episode. Both Whitehall and Hauser expressed their admiration for Haddish's comedic talent and her remarkable leadership on set. It is important to note that this interview took place prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Screen Rant: I love The Afterparty! I think I watched both seasons in 24 hours. It's so good.

Paul Walter Houser inquires, "Is it an enjoyable show?"

The response is affirmative, stating that it is indeed a highly enjoyable show. One of the remarkable aspects of Afterparty is its ability to encompass various genres, thereby influencing the portrayal of the characters. The question arises as to how the actors manage to adjust their approach in each episode, all the while maintaining the essence of their characters.

Jack Whitehall and I both agree that it was important to make adjustments that weren't too drastic. By making gradual changes to our speech patterns and mannerisms, we ensured that we fit well within the genre. However, despite these incremental changes, our performances still felt somewhat similar. The key was the support we received from Chris Miller and the rest of the creative team behind the scenes. They helped us ensure that everything was aligned and everyone was on the same page.

Paul Walter Houser praised the thoughtful improvisation in the comedy. Instead of being merely showy, the improvisation process involved doing multiple takes of the scripted content and then allowing a few extra takes for experimenting with new ideas. Ultimately, the best idea would prevail.

Jack Whitehall: Additionally, throughout most of the days, we had the writers actively present behind the monitor. Their enthusiastic involvement included pitching ideas, fine-tuning dialogue, and ensuring every take remained vibrant. The overall collaborative process was truly remarkable.

Out of all the genres, which one did you enjoy the most during this season?

Paul Walter Houser: The Wes Anderson films were my favorite to bring to life, but I also found them the most challenging to work on because Wes has a very distinct style. Over time, some of his movies have almost become self-parodies, but when I approached this performance, I had to ask myself, "What should I do in a Wes Anderson film?" I knew it required a minimalist approach, but I couldn't do nothing. I had to find a balance or a sweet spot, and that was incredibly difficult for me. I felt very insecure about it.

Jack Whitehall: I really enjoyed filming the Hitchcock episode, particularly Elizabeth's role. It was a lot of fun because I'm a big fan of Hitchcock movies. It was one of the first episodes we shot, and everything felt very stylish and classy. It was a great way to start things off.

Paul Walter Houser: Are you a Hitchcock fan like you've seen all this stuff?

Jack Whitehall: Yeah.

Paul Walter Houser: No, you're full of it. Have you seen everything?

Jack Whitehall: Yeah. Psycho, The Birds, North By Northwest, Rear Window.

Paul Walter Houser: I've seen Rear Window, Birds, and North By Northwest. I have not seen Psycho which is blasphemy.

Which version of your character do you believe is the most accurate? Is it the portrayal they have of themselves or is it how others perceive them?

Jack Whitehall: Most likely how others perceive them. In Sebastian's account of events, he is portrayed as a sophisticated, charming, and flawless individual. However, in reality, he is probably more of a despicable person, as portrayed in the perception of others.

Paul Walter Houser: Yeah, I'd have to agree. It's like seeing things from someone else's perspective, I guess. Travis, much like a lot of my characters, or maybe even myself, deals with this sense of grandiosity.

One aspect that really stands out for me is Tiffany Haddish's performance as the detective. She brings a level of excellence to the comedy, especially considering the expository nature of those particular scenes. How was the experience of working with her on those scenes that weren't part of the imagined scenarios?

Paul Walter Houser praised Tiffany's comedic leadership on set, noting her ability to command the room while still delivering laughs. He enjoyed watching her improvise with other cast members, even when he had little to do in certain scenes.

Jack Whitehall admitted that Tiffany was the only person who could truly surprise and unsettle him. He specifically mentioned moments of improvisation, especially when she flirted with him, which occasionally made him blush uncontrollably, possibly breaking character momentarily.

I love the show , and I can't wait for more people to see it and you both are incredible in it.

Paul Walter Houser: What outlet are you with?

Screen Rant.

Paul Walter Houser: Screen Rant. Screen Rant. Other websites try to be as good as you but they can't. Screen Rant. Screen Rant.

Jack Whitehall: That's your new jingle.

About The Afterparty Season 2

Detective Danner is summoned by Aniq and Zoë for assistance when they find themselves embroiled in another murder case. This time, the unfortunate victim is the groom of the wedding they happen to be attending. To exonerate Zoë's family from any suspicion, the trio embarks on a quest for evidence and proceeds to interrogate potential culprits. Among the list of suspects are Zoë's relatives, star-crossed lovers, and the groom's business partner, each of whom presents their own version of the events leading up to the tragic murder.

Check out our other The Afterparty season 2 interviews:

Phil Lord, Chris Miller & Anthony King

Sam Richardson & Zoe Chao

John Cho & Ken Jeong

Tiffany Haddish & Zach Woods

Anna Konkle & Elizabeth Perkins

Poppy Liu & Vivian Wu

Anna Konkle

The first two episodes of The Afterparty season 2 are now streaming on Apple TV+.

Source: Screen Rant Plus