What would have happened if inclusion and representation were taken more seriously in the Golden Age of Hollywood? While we will never actually know,Ryan MurphyandIan Brennanattempt to answer the question in their Netflix limited series,Hollywood, which is like aWhat If…?comic book about Hollywood in the 1940s. The series takes real people likeRock Hudson,Anna May Wong, andVivien Leighand combines them with fictionalized aspiring actors and filmmakers who are willing to do whatever it takes to make Hollywood look at every person as equal, no matter their race or sexual orientation. Also, unlike some of Murphy’s previous projectslikeAmerican Horror StoryorAmerican Crime Story,Hollywoodhas an upbeat and optimistic tone which works really well with the time period and material.
With the series now streaming on Netflix, I recently did a Zoom call withDarren Criss,Samara WeavingandLaura Harrierto talk about making the series. During the interview, they talked about Ryan Murphy’s commitment to diversity and inclusion both in front of and behind the camera, how Weaving and Harrier’s characters aren’t competing with each other, why 1940’s Hollywood is such an interesting time period, and more. In addition, Criss talks about voicing aTransformerand aTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtle,and reveals what it was like makingBill and Ted 3(Bill & Ted Face the Music) as she played Alex Winter’s daughter in the upcoming sequel.
Check out what they had to say in the player below and further down the page is exactly what we talked about and links to other coverage.
Darren Criss, Samara Weaving and Laura Harrier:
For more from with Ryan Murphy,here’s why he wanted to makeHollywoodand championing minority voices, anupdate onAmerican Crime Story: Impeachment, andan update on theEwan McGregor-ledHalstonseries.
