‘Actors on Actors’ Season 22: Colin Farrell, Dave Chappelle, the Schwarzeneggers, and Parker Posey Join Emmy Conversation
As Emmy season heats up, Variety’s Actors on Actors returns for its 22nd edition — and the new lineup reads like a who’s who of creative risk-takers and genre-defiers. The acclaimed interview series, which pairs notable performers in no-holds-barred conversations about their craft, has tapped some of this year’s most talked-about names in television, including Colin Farrell, comedy provocateur Dave Chappelle, indie queen Parker Posey, and the father-son duo of Arnold and Patrick Schwarzenegger.
The series has long been a staple of the awards circuit — part confessional, part masterclass — offering an intimate, often unfiltered look into how actors prepare, perform, and process their work. With no moderator to guide the conversation, guests are free to dive deep into personal experiences, discuss challenges on set, and reflect on the broader cultural resonance of their roles. The format has historically produced viral clips, meme-worthy quotes, and moments of rare vulnerability that audiences — and awards voters — don’t soon forget.
This year’s slate is particularly eclectic, and that’s precisely what makes it so compelling. Colin Farrell, fresh off a brooding turn in Apple TV+’s Sugar and still riding critical acclaim from The Banshees of Inisherin, continues to stretch the boundaries of what a “leading man” can look like in modern television. His recent performances have been quiet studies in restraint — internal storms barely breaking the surface. Seeing him unpack that process alongside other performers may reveal a more cerebral, methodical side than audiences are used to.
Then there’s Dave Chappelle — a lightning rod for public discourse and one of the most influential comedians of his generation. His inclusion is nothing short of audacious. Known for weaving sociopolitical critique into his stand-up, Chappelle’s presence on a show centered around acting craft raises fascinating questions: Is performance just about embodying a role, or can it also be a tool for cultural interrogation? How does a figure like Chappelle navigate the thin line between controversy and legacy?
The Schwarzenegger pairing is perhaps the most unexpected and poignant. Arnold, a Hollywood institution and former governor, appears alongside his son Patrick, an emerging actor in his own right with projects like Gen V and The Staircase under his belt. Their conversation may provide a rare look at generational tension, privilege, and perseverance within the business — and how legacy operates differently when your last name is Schwarzenegger.
Parker Posey, meanwhile, has remained a singular voice in film and television, moving effortlessly between indie projects, experimental roles, and mainstream television. With a reputation for balancing biting satire and soulful introspection, her insights are expected to cut through the noise with wit and candor. For an industry that often prizes polish over honesty, Posey has always been refreshingly immune to the pressures of conformity — making her a particularly exciting addition to this year’s cast.
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What Actors on Actors does best is strip away the PR-speak and marketing gloss that surrounds most awards coverage. In its place, it offers raw, real, and resonant exchanges. It reminds viewers that behind the Hollywood spectacle are artists struggling with doubt, chasing truth, and reshaping the medium in real time. As the Emmys inch closer, this season’s pairings promise not only to entertain, but to provoke thought — and maybe even shift the narrative around who gets recognized.
In an entertainment landscape that increasingly blends celebrity with performance, Actors on Actors remains one of the few spaces where nuance is still allowed to thrive. It’s not just a series of interviews — it’s a time capsule of the creative spirit, captured just before statues are handed out.
