Billy Magnussen Interview: Made For Love Season 2 | Screen Rant
Made for Love season 2 has arrived on HBO Max after a year-long wait, premiering its first 2 episodes last week with 2 more to come on Thursday. The dark romantic comedy stars Cristin Milioti as Hazel Green, a woman on the run from her tech billionaire husband, Byron (Billy Magnussen). Unfortunately for her, Byron implanted a tracking device in her brain with the capacity to download her "emotional data."
The finale of Made For Love season 1 saw Hazel return to Byron in exchange for care of her sick father (played by Ray Romano), but viewers hope to see her gain her freedom once more in season 2. And while Magnussen may play a darkly complicated character on the HBO Max comedy, fans from all around the world know him as Prince Anders in Disney's live-action Aladdin, which will soon have a spinoff starring him.
Magnussen spoke to Screen Rant about what's different between Byron and Hazel in Made For Love season 2, why he admires the cast so much, and what his hopes are for Prince Anders.
Screen Rant: Where are you?
Billy Magnussen: Belfast, Ireland.
Oh, wow. What are you doing there?
Billy Magnussen: Shooting a film out here, actually. In Ireland!
I'm a big fan of all your work. Do you have a fan base name? I think I'm gonna pitch the Magnets.
Billy Magnussen: [Laughs] That so... I never thought I would come to that moment; this moment right now. That's so cute. I'm a little... What is called, bashful? Yeah, that's so funny. The Magnets? I love it. I love it.
Made For Love is so freakin' good. I love this show and encourage everyone to watch it. Going into season 2, what would you say the biggest difference from season 1 is?
Billy Magnussen: I think it's that instead of her escaping, it's more that they're trying to connect; they're trying to understand, they're trying to find a balance and a meeting point.
I think with Made For Love, what's great about it is that it uses dark comedy and sci-fi as a veil to really talk about love and relationships, and what it is to be in a relationship and the struggles with it. Yes, it's crazy and zany or whatever. But I do think it's still about two people that once loved each other and don't know what to do.
One of the most subtly funny moments in season 1 is when they're talking to Byron and are like, "Oh, he's like Willy Wonka." And you're like, "What?" You have no idea who Willy Wonka is.
Billy Magnussen: "Who?" It's such an absurd thing. Again, that shit was improvised. It's so funny.
Oh, that's awesome. Because he's a madman, but there are little slivers where he's very childlike and human. I feel for him sometimes.
Billy Magnussen: Yeah, that's the hope. Because I think everyone's worth caring for.
How does this show differ from anything you've done before?
Billy Magnussen: We're in a communal art form, and so every project is really different. But I just love the jazz and the music that this ensemble makes together. That's all I can say. It's such a collaborative thing.
And each show has its own tune and rhythm and is just its own authentic thing.
I became a huge fan of yours during Ingrid Goes West, and then again in Game Night, which has been regarded as one of the best comedies of the last decade. Have you noticed the momentum that film has gained?
Billy Magnussen: No! Really? Oh, that's awesome. That's so exciting to hear. I love that.
It was funny. I remember it kind of got hidden, because Black Panther opened one week before we came out. Black Panther was amazing, but it just dominated.
It reminds me of the trajectory that Popstar had, where people were like, "You haven't seen Popstar?" You put it on, and people are like, "This is the greatest frickin' thing I've ever seen."
Billy Magnussen: Popstar? I haven't seen this. What is it?
Oh my gosh. Okay, here we go. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a Lonely Island film with Andy Samberg, and he's basically doing this Justin Bieber parody. But it's so funny. Please watch it.
Billy Magnussen: I'll check it out.
Waves were made on the interwebs when the Aladdin spinoff was announced. Do you have an update for me on where things stand?
Billy Magnussen: It's in development. We are in the stages of rewrites right now, and it's still moving forward. Yeah, it's really exciting.
I loved making that character up, and to have the opportunity to create a world and a story with him in it has really been a treat. I love that. That's what I really love about this industry; to play in such a way like that. I
You played that character, and then you went, "Hey, I have an idea how we can go beyond this."
Billy Magnussen: That's literally what happened. I think I was 30 seconds in that movie, and there was no plan for Disney to do anything with it or whatever. And I just kind of went around to them. I was like, "Hey, I just don't want this guy to die. I've really enjoyed living in this world, and I have some ideas that could be fun."
To be the not-Prince-Charming Prince, you know? We always see Prince Charming, so I was like, "Let's mix it up."
That's so cool. Is it a series or a movie?
Billy Magnussen: A movie.
For Made For Love, have you heard anything about season 3 yet? I know it's early.
Billy Magnussen: I don't, but do you?
I don't know anything yet, but I would love that.
Billy Magnussen: It's like a little sleeper [hit]. If someone sees it, they usually dig it. But I hope [s]. Again, I'm just so proud to be working with wonderful people on it. I feel so lucky and fortunate.
I will end it with: what's next for the Magnets? What do we got next?
Billy Magnussen: I don't know. [Laughs] I don't know what's next. We'll see. I don't know.
After a woman escapes from a suffocating 10-year marriage to a tech billionaire, she discovers her husband had her fitted with a tracking device. The device, which he implanted in her brain, allows him to track her location, watch her live, and know her "emotional data" as she tries to regain her independence.
Check back for more interviews with the cast and crew of Made For Love.
Two new episodes of Made For Love season 2 drop every Thursday on HBO Max.