EXCLUSIVE | '4400' star Wilder Yari asks fans to be ready for twists and turns
Whenever a production company or streaming platform announces that it will be rebooting an iconic series, fans get really cautious and excited at the same time. Fans expect the reboot version to be as good as the original on and when it doesn't come out as expected, they quickly get over it.
Some of the reboots to come out recently have been Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune', 'Gossip Girl' and 'Dexter'. However, there has been another show which has been revived and slowly capturing the minds of the people and the name of the show is '4400'. The CW series is a reboot of the original series released in 2004. Since the arrival of the reboot series, there have been a lot of comparisons between both shows. MEAWW sat down with Wilder Yari, the star of The CW sci-fi project, to talk about the show and why it should not be compared with the original one.
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Yari plays the role of Jessica Tanner on the show and has been praised for their work on the show. Yari has been a part of the industry since 2013 and has a rich history of arts in their household. Their mother was an Arts lecturer and their father was an architect, so arts have always been a big part of their life. Take a look at how Wilder joined acting and how '4400' is an important show for this world right now.
Q) There has been a lot of comparisons between the latest editions of ‘The 4400’ with the original one. The original series aired in 2004 and was a bit different. So, do you think it is appropriate to compare the two shows?
Wilder: I believe, people should think of it as a separate entity. The original ‘4400’ series was ahead of its time in a lot of ways and I think, that’s the reason why it is getting rebooted right now. But I definitely think that the reboot version has its identity. People will see that as the season progresses.
Q) You have been working since 2013 and have been a part of a variety of projects. From shorts movies to being a part of hit TV series like ‘The L Word’, you have done a wide range of work in these 8 years. So, how’s your journey been in Hollywood?
Wilder: Well, the journey has been rocky. It hasn’t been as smooth as I would have wanted it to be. Actually, it’s been a lot of pushing. I definitely did not get the right start and had to make opportunities happen for myself.
Q) Your show ‘The 4400’ is slowly and steadily turning out to be a big show. The viewership is also increasing and people are tuning in good numbers to watch the show. So, what attracted you to be a part of the show, and what was the audition procedure like?
Wilder: The audition procedure was something like people would not expect it to be. I auditioned for the show in April and I didn’t hear back (laughs). Absolutely nothing. A couple of months went by and it was June, and they re-released the role for Jessica Tanner because they couldn’t find the best person yet. So, my agents submitted me again and were like ‘you remember? You saw this person’. And I got an email later day saying ‘can you be on set next week?’
So, I mean, I didn’t meet the showrunners or writers. Didn’t do any kind of chemistry reading, it was just very quickly. But I was really fortunate that it happened because everyone turned out to be so lovely.
Q) After the first three episodes, people have started to love the show and it is now creating an impact on the minds of the people. So, what do you think people would have taken with themselves after watching the first three episodes? And what can they expect from the rest of the season?
Wilder: Well, the rest of the season has a lot more twists and turns than you think. I believe, the first three episodes lay down a good foundation and tell viewers about who these people are and what they are dealing with. What their situation is and their relationship with the government. But things twist and turn really quickly. There are going to be some break-ins and some break-outs and there is some crucial data that, both the government and the 4400 are trying to get their hands on.
Q) The show talks about a marginalized community that has been left off by the government. We even see that happening in the real world as well, be it the LGBTQ+ community or the Black community. When they see such shows, they see themselves in those characters and what they go through in their day-to-day lives. So, how important it is for you to show such scenarios and make a difference in their lives by showing such characters on the show?
Wilder: That’s one of the main reasons why I am so proud to be a part of this show. I believe that’s also one of the reasons why it is important to broadcast the show now because people do identify with the character and there’s a lot of criticisms with the way the government handles any vulnerable communities. I researched a lot about my character who works with the Department of Homeland Security and I realized that the stuff they are doing is awful. My mother’s also an immigrant and it means a lot to me to be a part of a show that can inspire people to have confidence in themselves.
Q) Any upcoming projects?
Wilder: I’m making a feature film on ‘Neem Rooni’ and it’ll be out in late 2022. I am also attached to this sci-fi show titled ‘Keep Delete’, which is written Kryzz Gautier. It’s a great story about two people and their memories get erased. They need to find what the missing pieces are in order to save the world. That’s been really to work on.
(To lend an easy-to-read experience for our readers, the original interview is split into multiple stories. Stay with us as we update our site with more of Tann's valuable insights on her career)