Extrapolations performers Matthew Rhys and Heather Graham have opened up about their exciting new Apple TV+ drama Extrapolations, as well as their fun behind the scenes.
The new series, from Contagion writer Scott Z Burns, brings viewers to the near future through eight interconnected storylines, revealing how ‘chaotic repercussions of climate change have been imbedded into our everyday lives’.
‘Every narrative is unique, but the struggle for our future is common,’ says the summary. ‘And, with humanity’s fate on the line, the conflict between bravery and complacency has never been more pressing.’
The drama, which stars Meryl Streep, Tobey Maguire, Forest Whitaker, Edward Norton, and Gemma Chan, will be published on March 17.
Matthew and Heather spoke to Metro.co.uk ahead of the launch on how difficult it was to separate themselves from the eye-opening series once the cameras stopped rolling, as well as the changes they made in their everyday lives following filming.
‘The short answer is no,’ Matthew said of turning off the computer. ‘The character may certainly be dropped.
Matthew Rhys was a member of the Extrapolations cast (Image: Apple TV+).
‘Scott had been working with such a large number of academics on this programme that he would sometimes throw out some information that would actually shock you.
‘One of the things I’m trying to instill in my children at home is that you have to start with the micro to take care of the macro. So you start doing the little things that will add up over time.
‘I believe that small steps may go a long way.’
‘Scott proved himself in Contagion by doing so much scientific research, and a lot of that things came true,’ Heather concurred. ‘But now, with this show, I think people will be looking to it as, “This is a forecast about global warming”.
‘I think the main thing we can probably do is educate ourselves. Obviously, changes need to be made on a small and big level.’
‘And time is on our side.’
Despite filming such intense moments, the ensemble worked hard to maintain the environment as lighthearted as possible behind the scenes in order to counter the drama in front of the camera.
‘I was very excited to work with Matthew, he’s really lovely,’ Heather insisted. ‘Even though you really hate him on the show, he’s incredibly charming.’
‘We did have fun,’ her co-star agreed. ‘The enormity of that cast, sadly there was no one great cast dinner that we all got together for.
‘There are times when you do shoot a subject matter that is slightly more serious, the on-set humor does tend to come through, sometimes a little stronger, because the enormity of what you’re shooting is terrifying.
‘I do remember feeling incredibly ignorant when we were talking to Scott about the beach scenes in the arctic. We got there and I was like, “How are you going to make this look like the arctic?”
‘He went, “That… That’s the whole point… It’s melting.”
‘I went, “Oh, yes! Yes, of course! Sorry, right, ask me that again!” So at times I was the subject of the joke.’
Extrapolations is released on March 17 on Apple TV+.