‘Almost Paradise’ star Christian Kane is inspired by James Garner
He may have been filming in the Philippines, but Christian Kane took some down-home inspiration with him into the making of the second season of his action series “Almost Paradise.”
“We’ve taken a lot from ‘Rockford Files’ and our own James Garner out of Norman, Oklahoma,” said Kane, who was born in Texas and grew up in Norman. “(’Almost Paradise’ executive producer and co-showrunner) Gary Rosen was a big fan of that show. We try to make this guy trip over himself every chance he gets because that’s where the comedy comes from. And it’s fun.”
Rather than a private detective like Garner’s Jim Rockford, Kane’s “Almost Paradise” character Alex Walker is a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration undercover operative. In the comedic crime drama’s first season, which originally aired in spring 2020 on WGN America (now NewsNation), Walker was forced to take early retirement following his partner’s betrayal and a life-threatening battle with hypertension.
Looking for a more relaxed lifestyle, he bought tiny gift shop on a pristine beach in the Philippines, but soon learned that island’s luxury resort’s rich and powerful clientele often includes high-end international criminals. Despite his plans for a less stressful existence, he quickly found himself fighting crime alongside a pair of local cops (Arthur Acuna and Samantha Richelle).
When is Season 2 of ‘Almost Paradise’ premiering?
The sophomore season of “Almost Paradise” finds Walker at a crossroads as he has to decide whether to make the less-than-peaceful island he loves his permanent home.
Season 2 of “Almost Paradise” premieres July 21 on Amazon Freevee, Amazon’s free streaming service formerly known as IMDBtv. All 10 new episodes will be available on premiere day exclusively on Freevee in the U.S. and UK.
“Almost Paradise” is the fourth project Kane has worked on with executive producer and co-showrunner Dean Devlin, along with the caper series “Leverage,” which aired on TNT from 2008 to 2012; “The Librarians,” the fantasy-action show that ran on TNT from 2014 to 2018; and, most recently, the spinoff “Leverage: Redemption,” which aired its Season 2 finale on Freevee in January.
Why is it important to film ‘Almost Paradise’ in the Philippines?
“Almost Paradise” is the first American television series to be filmed entirely in the Philippines.
“Dean Devlin is actually half-Filipino; a lot of people don’t know that,” Kane said. “He said, ‘The problem I have with this is every single person, every film, always films the Philippines as poverty porn. ... He didn’t want to put people in that light — and they didn’t deserve it. There’s so many colors there.”
A former University of Oklahoma student, Kane said the Philippines setting has become a character on the show.
“There’s beautiful colors; the backdrops are ridiculous. A lot of times people think we’re on blue screen, and we’re actually not, that’s exactly what’s behind us,” Kane said.