Los Angeles, CA – When The Paper premiered its first season, expectations were at an all-time high for The Office spin-off, especially after it was revealed that Irish star Domhnall Gleeson would take on the leading role. Well known globally for films like About Time, Ex Machina, the Harry Potter movies, and the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Gleeson delighted audiences as Ned Sampson, an ambitious newspaper editor trying to keep a struggling publication alive. With the second season now streaming on JioHotstar, Gleeson reflects on his growing empathy for journalists, how Ned’s journey has evolved, and whether a surprise cameo might be on the cards.
On the press, Gleeson said his empathy has only deepened over time. “I’ve always been pretty empathetic towards journalists. I think the press is having an incredibly hard time at the moment, and so my empathy just grows all the time. My appreciation for the people doing the good work keeps increasing,” he said, noting the difference between the Pulitzer-winning journalism Ned dreams of and the promotional interviews he does off-screen. Speaking about Ned’s arc in Season 2, Gleeson revealed that there wasn’t much he wanted to change after the first season. “It was more about honing in on the aspects of his personality that we found the most entertaining and the most moving,” he said. “I hope he feels like a real person, and that he still can surprise people.”
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Asked about the possibility of his father, the acclaimed actor Brendan Gleeson, making a cameo, Domhnall laughed. “I think a really great actor will fit into anything. My dad’s a great actor, and he can be very, very funny when he wants to be. So he could fit in great… but I wouldn’t be expecting him to be part of The Paper anytime soon.” On the upcoming Harry Potter reboot, in which he previously played Bill Weasley, Gleeson said, “I wish them luck, and I think it’ll be great. I think it works, as the material suits a television adaptation very well. I love the books and I love the movies, so I don’t see any reason I wouldn’t love the TV show.”
