Alan Tudyk Explores Cadmus Pryde’s Downfall on Apple TV’s WondLa

Alan Tudyk. What more do I need to say?

The man is ubiquitous. Everywhere. Being everyone. And knocking it out of the galaxy every time. He is our leaf on the wind.

Present in every fandom from Serenity to Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Justified to Doom Patrol, he starred as Harry Vanderspeigle, the resident alien on Resident Alien for four seasons.

With more voice actor credits than live action ones, he’s punched his ticket as Disney royalty, Star Wars alum, and DC villain-hood with the versatility of his utterances.

On Apple TV’s animated adventure WondLa, Tudyk takes on the role of Cadmus Pryde, a deliciously brilliant but willfully blinded genius, the self-appointed architect of humanity’s salvation.

Via Zoom, Tudyk shared his insights on the character.

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The interview below has been edited for clarity.

Alan Tudyk as Cadmus Pryde

How were you brought aboard WondLa, and what were your initial impressions of the show and the story?

Well, I really like it. I love these big, epic stories that have huge themes. It’s action. It has aliens and fun characters, whole races of beings. I love those types of stories.

I start off as a nice guy, you think. He’s talking to a little girl. He’s a hologram, and he’s saying, “Eva, this is how we need to do things. This is where we are, and you’re going to grow up and be big and strong and help.”

And, as it’s gone on in Season 2, especially when you finally meet Cadmus, or the cloned version of Cadmus that he is, he’s maybe not so nice.

When all the masks start to fall, things aren’t as good as he pretends that they are, and, in his desperation, he starts making some really bad choices that are contrary to the themes of the story.

Paved With Good Intentions

Cadmus is fascinating for viewers because, as much as he appears benevolent to the young Eva, we sense that the man himself started out with benevolent goals.

Yeah, I think you’re right. I agree, absolutely. He started out with the right ideas, but when things started to go wrong… He is making his best… He’s trying to save the human race. And with something that big, what wouldn’t you do?

He’s cut off avenues that are options he should’ve gone with, unfortunately.

And when I say, “He’s contrary to the theme,” [I mean] the theme of “There is no them. It’s just us.” He doesn’t see that. He sees “us” [as only] humans. That’s what’s important. And misses the theme.

There is another theme brought up by Eva Eight in Season 3, that of fulfilling a promise made. It’s a theme that been there since the beginning of the series, when Cadmus’s hologram promises Eva Nine that she’ll grow up to be a part of this new world.

What do you see as the promise made to Cadmus? Maybe one he made to himself, or one made by circumstances?

The promise to himself would’ve been that he’s going to create the world that he’s always promised and that he will do it.

He can make it. It will be made. They will thrive. He’s too smart, done too many things right. They’ve been able to overcome so much. That would be his promise to himself.

Does he need to be the savior in this story?

I think he did. But he doesn’t. [Laughs] When he realizes he can’t.

WondLa and Choices

Considering WondLa’s three-season arc, what do you think of its vision of humanity’s future?

I think it’s right. I think it’s the way to go, the only way forward. It feels true in the story. You can’t help but [see] the parallels. It’s happening.

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If you could give Cadmus the opportunity to change a decision he made, what would it be?

A rinse conditioner. Something with a little color. He’s gone gray, and I don’t think it’s his best look. I think he should’ve cloned a little earlier, just to save those beautiful black locks that he used to have. [Laughs]

I wish somebody would’ve given him some of that gum! Communication! It would’ve changed so much! Ultimately, he’s a good man — way down deep — and that would’ve changed things.

Apple TV’s Wondla Season 3, the final season, premieres on Wednesday, November 26.

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