Collider: When did you know that you wanted to leap to the future for the finale?
And did you always know that it would have to be Ian there waiting for Ben?
MARTIN GERO: Yeah, it made the most sense.
Ian needed more time.
The math was so complex that it would take another 10 years to get right.
At the same time, who exactly did Ian find for Ben to leap into?
Image via NBC
GERO: Thats a story for another day.
Ill leave that open to the fan community.
I would love to read peoples short stories about who that person is.
Image via NBC
We dont plan on answering it.
Not this season, and not next season.
We talked about it a lot.
Image via NBC
We have an internal logic for us, but its fun to just leave it out there.
We dont really see much of it, but we get so much from it.
GERO: I think thats key.
Image via NBC
With12 Monkeys, they were underground and hiding.
You really get so much from Ian and Ians reaction.
it’s possible for you to feel such weight with how Ian is with Ben.
Image via NBC
Mason [Alexander Park] is truly a phenomenal performer.
Theres nothing that we can throw at them that they cant do.
Were constantly looking for ways to really show off how incredible Mason is.
It was the first thing we tried to figure out, when I took over the show.
This end has been what weve been driving towards.
We stopped and we were like, Okay, how does the show end, emotionally?
How does the show end, plot wise?
And then, weve been working backwards.
We cant have you rallying around her death and making her a martyr.
We need to end the program now.
GERO: It wont be part of the story in Season 2.
Season 2 will be devoid of Leaper Xs.
What would you say about that?
What made you decide not to give a totally straight answer on the ending?
GERO: We had actually shot a scene that went right after that.
Im sure there will be a promo, immediately after [the finale], for Season 2.
There was a scene where they discussed, What do we do now?
And it was good.
The audience gets what happened.
And then, well pick it up in Season 2 and explain what happened.
How far ahead have you thought about the long-term plans for this?
Do you know how you want the show to end up, whatever season that is?
Do you have a certain amount of seasons that you have basic ideas for?
GERO: Its such an unusual show.
Beyond that, its a show that is a little more segmented than other TV shows.
In many ways, were trying to make the show less plotty in Season 2.
Is there any new chance or new talk of Scott Bakula making a guest appearance?
Is that a hope that you keep alive?
GERO: The door is always open.
He knows my number.
We would love to have him.
But also, hes just been so great.
Hes been very kind to the show and has said nice things about us.
What made you decide to bring different members of the team into the leaps as holograms?
GERO: Its two-fold.
One, we dont wanna kill Caitlin.
Caitlin is in everything.
Shes in the present and the past.
So, part of it was that, but also, the leaps are where the show exists.
How did the cast react when you told them where everything was leading?
What got the biggest reaction, and from who?
GERO: They were all stoked.
We had told them pretty early that this is what was gonna happen, but theyre so great.
I think they were all so excited to mess with their looks.
One of our early ideas was to just color code everything.
Everything in 2018 is amber.
Everything in 2023 is blue.
Everything in the future is gray scale.
And then, visually, we changed their looks up.
They just did such a great job.
It was so fun to watch.
And also, Caitlin was doing scenes with her own self.
It was really amazing.
I thought it was a really interesting twist to have Ziggy be the mole.
What led you to Ziggy?
GERO: Yeah, exactly.
Its a benign force.
Its just recording everything.
Obviously, the future has access to that recording and is using it against us.
Are there ways you might push things even bigger and further because you know how to do it now?
GERO: Yeah, I think thats exactly right.
You learn so much during the first season.
The first season of a TV show is brutal.
Im not gonna lie, its a lot of work.
Youre starting everything from scratch.
You dont have a shorthand with the team that youre working with.
We have an incredible art department.
We have an incredible crew.
Were moving at a higher capacity now, just having figured out how the production works.
Were basically shooting continuously.
We havent stopped filming.
Its really allowed for a bigger scope for Season 2.
Our season premiere is the biggest episode weve ever done, including the pilot.
So, weve really figured out how to physically make the show better, if that makes sense.
Quantum Leapis available to stream at Peacock.
