Why Mark-Paul Gosselaar Plays The Dad Role So Well on FOX’s The Passage.

By Delaina Dixon | January 14, 2019 | Entertainment

The Passage, Fox’s new psychological/sci-fi thriller, premieres tonight. The premise? A viral disease threatens to destroy humanity. The U.S. government is working on a cure, but the serum turns all its test subjects into vampirish monsters,┬áthough the younger the subject the longer it takes to turn. It’s suggested that a child be used in the experiment. And that’s where the problems really begin…

Mark-Paul┬áGosselaar┬ástars as┬áBrad Wolgast, a former military agent who “recruits” test subjects from death row and those who won’t be missed. He latest assignment is to round up an African-American orphan, so perfectly played by rising star┬áSaniyya Sidney. While transporting her, his paternal instincts kick in to protect her from what’s about to come. It comes from a very real place for the real-life father of four.

“Everything’s on the page, and it’s beautifully written by all the writers, but I think for me it was important to physically and mentally tap into the paternal side as well,” Mark shared with the DivaGals at a private NYC screening. “I kept the weight on from [the series] Pitch, and seeing it, I think, ‘OK, I look the part.”

(We realize that Mark-Paul is saying he’s rocking a Dad bod for The Passage, but if that’s a Dad bod, sign us up!)

Adding to the diverse cast is McKinley Belcher III, Caroline Chikezie and Entourage alum Emmanuelle Chriqui.

The Passage premieres Monday, Jan. 14 at 9 p.m. on FOX.

photo credit: FOX