At San Diego Comic-Con 2025 on Saturday, Shailene Woodley surprised fans by appearing unexpectedly at the panel for Hulu’s apocalyptic political thriller Paradise. Marking her first Comic-Con appearance in nearly ten years, Woodley joined series creator Dan Fogelman and star/executive producer Sterling K. Brown, igniting cheers from the audience. Her role as Annie in the upcoming second season was officially revealed just days earlier by Entertainment Weekly, making her return a highly anticipated moment.
A First Look at Paradise Season 2’s Intense Premiere Episode
The panel featured a never-before-seen preview of the first episode of Paradise’s second season, titled Graceland. The episode centers on Woodley’s character Annie, flashing back to moments before the catastrophic events that forced characters like Brown’s Xavier Collins, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson underground into a massive city bunker called Paradise. Annie’s story begins in Memphis, where she works as a tour guide at Elvis Presley’s famous home when sudden disaster erupts.
The preview shows the chaos unfolding as phones buzz with dire alerts, lights flicker, and panic escalates. Annie and a coworker scramble to gather essentials and seek shelter in a secure bunker, bracing for a massive surge of clouds and floods. This glimpse sets the stage for Annie’s vital role in the series’ evolving narrative.
Behind the Scenes: Woodley’s Reaction and Insights on Her Character
Dan Fogelman revealed that Woodley had just seen the episode preview for the first time during the panel, which visibly moved her. Woodley expressed surprise and excitement over the intensity of her scenes, saying,
“I’m sweating! I did it and I’m sweating! That was crazy!”
—Shailene Woodley, Actress
Reflecting on her long absence from Comic-Con, Woodley shared,
“It’s been a long time. It’s almost been a decade. Comic-Con still going strong!”
—Shailene Woodley, Actress
Previously known for her leading role in the Divergent film series, Woodley’s last Comic-Con appearance was in 2016 when she promoted the Snowden biopic alongside Joseph Gordon Levitt, director Oliver Stone, and whistleblower Edward Snowden. Her current involvement brings significant excitement, especially as she joins a cast that has been highly praised for its performances.
High Praise from the Show’s Creator and Cast
Fogelman described Woodley’s performance as a remarkable achievement, warning his praise might be difficult to explain without spoiling the story:
“The first episode introduces this new character that Shai plays. It’s hard to talk about without giving away too much, but it is a real tour de force,”
he said.
“A performance tour de force, and I don’t say that lightly. She hasn’t seen it yet but everyone backstage is already coming up to her and telling her.”
—Dan Fogelman, Creator
Woodley shared how quickly the role came together after a positive introductory call with Fogelman. She recalled,
“travel in three days and you start filming in five or seven. It was a really fast turnaround.”
—Shailene Woodley, Actress
Sterling K. Brown also praised Woodley both professionally and personally, saying,
“I made a friend, that’s really the biggest thing. It’s always great when you hire wonderful people that are good at what they do, but when you actually make a friend that’s even cooler. She’s sweet, honest, open, ready to play, and very professional. I expected all of those things of her. But to have met her and to have played with her in the sandbox, it was everything and more. She’s outstanding.”
—Sterling K. Brown, Actor and Executive Producer
The Future of Annie and How She Fits Into Paradise’s World
Details about Annie’s fate remain deliberately guarded, but the show’s creators gave hints about her connection to other characters. With Xavier Collins’s story ending the first season as he ventures above ground for the first time after human civilization was devastated, there is strong potential for his path to cross with Annie’s.
Fogelman confirmed that their characters will eventually meet, noting,
“But Shai’s character lived in the world before, and so, I’m not going to say which characters will interact with her in the world, but eventually at some point, Sterling and her… we have filmed that. They’ve done scenes together.”
—Dan Fogelman, Creator
Meanwhile, Brown hinted at the broader scope of season two, noting it will explore survival beyond the bunker:
“See how people have been surviving that didn’t have the means and the planning that the people inside the bunker did. They’ve made a way. It doesn’t look as organized, obviously, but it is a way. We meet people who are benign. We meet people who are nefarious.”
—Sterling K. Brown, Actor and Executive Producer
Significance of Woodley’s Return and Its Impact on Fans and the Series
Shailene Woodley’s unexpected appearance at Comic-Con 2025 marks a significant moment for both fans and the Paradise series, sparking renewed enthusiasm and curiosity about how her character will influence the story’s dark, post-apocalyptic world. This return not only reconnects her with devoted audiences from previous projects like Divergent but also signals a bold narrative direction in Paradise’s second season.
With Woodley’s arrival, the season promises to deepen the exploration of how humanity survives catastrophic change from multiple perspectives. Her involvement alongside Sterling K. Brown and the rest of the cast suggests a complex, emotionally charged storyline is unfolding. As the series progresses, viewers can expect dramatic character intersections and revelations that will expand Paradise’s rich world beyond its underground safe haven.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Shailene Woodley’s diagnosis?
A. Shailene Woodley learned she had scoliosis at age 15, a diagnosis that surprised her. As she grew, she faced both physical and emotional challenges from the condition.
