When we learned that Eric McCormack and his son Finnigan would be on an episode of The Hunting Party season 2, there was no doubt that we were excited. Not only is it a chance to see McCormack take on a dark and twisty role, but we were excited to see father and son play opposite each other.
Then we learned that they would play the younger and older versions of the same character, and what a wild ride we were treated to! In a way, it was so much better, as a parent and child duo will have similar facial expressions and mannerisms without even thinking about it.
That’s something that I chatted with the McCormacks during our exclusive interview for The Hunting Party season 2. And yes, we had to discuss the bunnies.
Precinct TV: What was it like playing the older and younger versions of the same character?
Finnigan McCormack: It was strange, because I’ve always thought in my mind that I’ve wanted to be an actor, and I thought that if I got to act with my dad, it would be really special to be in a scene together. But, I think what’s so awesome and strange is that we’re playing the same character, so we’re not in the same scenes, but we’re creating the same identity across a couple of decades. We had a lot of fun with that before shooting and developing it piece by piece. It was something I’ve never experienced before.
Eric McCormack: I think there was something of an unspoken master plan of JJ [Bailey] and Jake [Coburn], who created the show, when they suggested that Finn read for the part. There were going to be some things that he and I both do without even discussing them in our choices that we’re not aware of because we’re father and son; they’re going to be natural things.
I haven’t seen the whole episode yet, so I’m very curious to see if those things just present themselves.
As someone who has seen the episode, I can say there are similarities at times, but I couldn’t tell you if they were intentional or not. Only you two know that.
EM: Oh, that’s awesome. That’s good to hear.
What was the prep work like for the two of you? Did you do some to make sure certain mannerisms were the same?
FM: For sure. Maybe not in particular any certain scenes, but for like the 20-year-later with the rabbits. That felt specific.
EM: We’re sharing a chair, 20 years apart, but it started with Finn, and we see the character touch a rabbit and hold an animal for the first time in his life. Of course, he’s a crazy serial killer, and you think he’s gonna hurt it, but then he melts into the bunny.
I got to see that, and then I remembered about it 20 years later. These kinds of things were like a gift that you don’t often get with characters. We get to see how he’s more confident with the rabbit, and how he’s more confident speaking to the doc. He’s not this anxiety-ridden mess.
I spent that whole scene hoping that you wouldn’t kill the rabbit.
FM: No animals were harmed.
You can kill all the humans you want, but not the animals.
FM: Don’t kill the dog. Don’t kill the rabbit. Don’t kill the cat. Those are my top three rules.
EM: The first time Finn ever went to a red carpet of any kind, it was in Pasadena, and I remember it was a spoof of some ‘50s horror film, and Finn was so excited at first. But then the dog dies, by a coyote, I think, and Finn was like, “Okay, I’m out of here.”
Aww, no!
EM: Yeah, in the parking lot he explained that animals should not be killed. The dog isn’t in a union and he’s not getting paid for this, and I should read up on it.
That’s so cute. Finn, this is your on-screen debut. What was the prep work for you to make sure you — pun intended — kill it as you did?
FM: We only had a couple of days’ worth of time before shooting after I found out I got the part. I’ve had a lot of experience acting in my life, but this was my first professional role, and I was so amped up to get the part down. I think the biggest thing for me was trying, with my dad, to just rationalize the character as much as possible.
From my first reading, I was moved, and I couldn’t imagine doing this stuff on my on-screen debut, so I had to understand him and empathize with the little slivers of humanity that he has. It helped develop his character much more to become three-dimensional. He wanted to connect with people, and he does that in a horrible way that leads to death. I don’t even think he wants them to die, which is the freakiest part. So, I just tried to make him a little less creepy.
EM: The director, Thor [Freudenthal], is an ongoing part of the show. He’s directed most of [The Hunting Party], so his empathy and his eye helped both of us a lot to see the performances and to meat them out a bit, particularly for Finn, who has to start the whole thing and leave me somewhere to go. I think it was helpful to have his eye.
FM: Oh my gosh, tremendously.
Eric, I’m running out of time, but because of how much we all love you playing the good guy, what’s it like to now be the poster boy of the type of guy we don’t want to date?
EM: It’s appalling! He meets some lovely women on this app, and he’s charming. That’s the thing. Because you’re charming, everyone wants to like you, and then it’s shocking! I would say, just because someone looks like Will Truman, don’t necessarily go for him.
For sure! After Will & Grace and Travelers, I just watched in wonder, like, “Why is Eric killing people?” but it’s one thing I love about this show.
FM: Why is my dad doing that?
EM: It’ll be the name of my biography.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
The Hunting Party season 2 airs on Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC and streams the following day on Peacock.