Anais Gutierrez
Hulu’s new action-comedy ‘Future Man’ was released on Tuesday. The streaming service premiered the Seth Rogen production starring ‘Hunger Games’ actor Josh Hutcherson.
‘Future Man’ is the latest in Hulu’s expanding slate of original programming, which includes current shows ‘Casual,’ ‘The Mindy Project,’ ‘Difficult People,’ ‘The Path,’ and Emmy winner ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’
‘Future Man’ action meeting comedy
Hulu premiered the latest addition to its original slate in 2017 on Tuesday, when ‘Future Man’ was released.
The show follows Josh Futurrman played by Josh Hutcherson, a janitor by day, talented gamer by night who is recruited by time travelers visitors in order to prevent the extinction of humanity.
While Future Man is the story’s hero, he’s superpowers extend to a major knowledge of pop culture, which comes as handy since somehow he finds himself in situations exactly like those on his favorite movies.
And in the battle for saving humanity, actor Josh Hutcherson says how effective this knowledge results.
“Sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn’t,” Hutcherson said.
‘Future Man’ is a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and actions topped with a lot of R-rated humor. It pays tributes to pop culture, from ‘Back to the Future’ to ‘Breaking Bad.’
“We thought it was exciting to try to do highly serialized, an incredibly plot-heavy comedy that had character but also cliffhangers, reveals and suspense,” executive producer Seth Rogen says.
‘Future Man’ was penned by Ariel Shaffir, Kyle Hunter, and Howard Overman, with a teleplay by Shaffir and Hunter.
Seth Rogen and long-time collaborator Evan Goldberg directed the pilot. If this huge team sounds familiar to you, is because they had already worked together in ‘Sausage Party.’ They also served as executive producers.
The cast includes Josh Hutcherson, Eliza Coupe, Derek Wilson, Haley Joel Osment, Keith David, Glenne Headly, and Ed Begley Jr.
Such a love for pop culture
Seth Rogen and partner Evan Goldberg share a love for pop culture, as it’s evident in their films ‘This is the End’ and Superbad.’ And they now took it to Hulu with ‘Future Man.’
Among the shows’ influences are James Cameron movies and ‘Back to the Future.’
“It’s heavily and very knowingly inspired by a lot of things,” he says.
“It’s not like we’re spoofing them. We’re more existing in a world where some of those tropes have come true and we’re able to acknowledge that.”
The pair decided to not only referred to these influences but make them an important part of the show.
“One of the best things the show does is take things that seem like jokes and make them into important plot points,” Rogen says.
“The show is so crazy that to have someone at its core able to convey the stakes and emotional side of it is the only thing that would make all the other stuff function at all.”
According to producing partner Evan Goldberg, this gives the show a lot of space and themes to explore.
“The premise has such legs,” promises Evan Goldberg.
“It can go so many places. Twenty-four seasons, if we’re as successful as Supernatural.”
But for now, the first season has 13 episodes now streaming on Hulu.
Josh on playing another Josh
Actor Josh Hutcherson explained how he got to work alongside Rogen and Goldberg on ‘Future Man’ after meeting on the set of ‘Disaster Artist.’
“They pitched me the rough idea, and it sounded absolutely insane, a super original time-traveling comedy with the Seth Rogen ‘Sausage Party’/’This Is the End’ brand of comedy,” he recalls.
“It sounded really great.”
Hutcherson clearly shares the love for pop culture and decided to jump in the project starring and serving as executive producer.
The production explores different decades as the story’s hero tries to save humanity.
“He wants to fix the future without f–king up the present,” explains Hutcherson.
“They have to jump around through time to try to make adjustments. The show explores multiple decades — the ’60s, the ’80s, the ’40s, the ’90s.”
While they physically travel in time, the show makes lots of allusions to ’80s films.
“There are so many references and Easter eggs of obscure science fiction that went right over my head,” he admits.
“People that are really hardcore fans of the genre will really be able to latch onto those things as well.”
Peeta and Futterman more alike than you think
The ‘Hunger Games’ alum also said what his character on ‘Future Man’ has in common with Peeta Mellark.
“One of his strongest driving forces is empathy and pacifism,” Hutcherson explains.
“I think Peeta understood that and that was a big part of who he was, and Josh Futterman is trying to save the world without having to conform to these people that are extremely violent and brutal.”
“There’s definitely some overlap,” he concluded.
While Josh Futurrman might make us proud, Josh Hutcherson is definitely hesitant about showing to a very specific audience.
“My grandma, she’s my No. 1 fan, and I don’t know what to do,” Hutcherson laughs.
“I’m very nervous. I think about this every time I talk about the show or I think about my grandma.”
Source: AVClub
