Hollywood needs to focus on creating more hopeful narratives, asserts Family Guy creator, deeming it the only truly valuable contribution the industry can make.
Seth MacFarlane, the creative mind behind The Orville, has voiced his concerns about the current trend of pessimistic and dystopian narratives in Hollywood. In a conversation with Ted Danson on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, MacFarlane expressed his desire for more optimistic stories that offer hope and blueprints for success.
MacFarlane, who credits Star Trek as a main influence on The Orville, believes that Hollywood should be providing audiences with more stories that mirror the hopeful spirit of classic sci-fi shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation. He criticizes the current obsession with antiheroes, describing them as "complicated, fucked-up, drug-addled" characters.
Despite enjoying shows like The Handmaid's Tale and The Sopranos, MacFarlane believes there is a lack of shows like Star Trek, which provided hope and blueprints for success in the past. He finds shows like The White Lotus brilliant but notes that none of the main characters are someone one would want to emulate.
In response to what he perceives as an overemphasis on dystopian and pessimistic stories, MacFarlane created The Orville. The show, which released its third season in 2022, embodies humor, heart, and a hopeful spirit, offering a balance of realism and optimism.
MacFarlane believes that storytelling should inspire positive change and urges Hollywood to produce content that uplifts and encourages rather than merely depresses or frightens viewers. He argues that while celebrities' opinions might not matter, Hollywood excels at storytelling and should do a better job at providing hopeful narratives.
The Orville serves as MacFarlane's flagship attempt to revive storytelling with an optimistic outlook, merging classic sci-fi adventurousness and humor with a positive message about humanity’s potential. MacFarlane plans for a season 4 of The Orville, but no official announcement has been made yet.
In essence, MacFarlane champions a return to storytelling that balances harsh realities with optimism and shows that positive outcomes are possible, a marked contrast to the prevailing trend of dark, cautionary tales dominating current television and film.
[1] MacFarlane, S. (2022). Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast. [2] MacFarlane, S. (2022). Interview with The Hollywood Reporter. [3] MacFarlane, S. (2022). Interview with Variety. [4] MacFarlane, S. (2022). Interview with Entertainment Weekly.
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