‘The Good Place’: What’s Next for Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, and William Jackson Harper?
Since The Good Place ended, there has been a Jeremy Bearimy-shaped hole in all our hearts. The characters fans grew to love, laugh at, and even loath have returned their essences to the universe or found new eternal callings. Now, we are left to ponder the meaning of life without them. On the other hand, the actors who played those characters have many more stories to tell. Here’s what some of The Good Place fan-favorites are up to now.
Kristen Bell as ‘Eleanor Shellstrop’
Kristen Bell owned the role of Eleanor Shellstrop, the perpetually selfish and recently deceased mortal. Although Eleanor was universally disliked by her peers on Earth, Bell brought wit, verve, and priceless relatability to the character. Eleanor arrived in the afterlife as a poser pretending to belong in The Good Place. But in the end, she earned her spot in paradise fair and square.
Before her role on The Good Place, fans may have seen Bell in a slew of high-profile television and film projects. Notably, she portrayed the title character in Veronica Mars — both the TV show and the movie. She has also nailed numerous voice-acting gigs, including her turn as Anna in Frozen and Frozen II.
Bell has at least four projects on the horizon, including the animated title, Do, Re & Mi, a Netflix limited series dubbed, The Woman in the House, and the feature film, Queenpins. And to the delight of Gossip Girl fans, Bell will reprise her role as the title character in the show’s revival.
Ted Danson as ‘Michael’
Playing a demon in architect’s clothing, Ted Danson brought the role of Michael to life. Michael created an afterlife neighborhood for the sole purpose of punishing Eleanor and three other unsuspecting humans for their deeds on Earth. The villain lulled them into a false sense of security by telling them they were in The Good Place, only to reveal the devastating — but hilarious — truth at the end of season 1.
Although Michael was positioned as an antagonist, Danson radiated charm and likability. And as the story unfolded, the character evolved into a kinder, gentler, and even funnier being. TV buffs may remember Danson’s unique charisma from his earlier sitcom days on Cheers and Becker or from his feature films such as Three Men and a Baby.
Next, Danson will play a businessperson-turned-politician on NBC’s Mr. Mayor. The show, which was co-created by Tina Fey, is slated to premiere in 2021.
William Jackson Harper as ‘Chidi Anagonye’
William Jackson Harper played Chidi Anagonye, the gooey moral center on The Good Place. Michael matched the perpetually indecisive ethics scholar with Eleanor as supposed soulmates in hopes that they would torture each other for eternity. By the end of the series, Chidi had gained the self-confidence that eluded him in the mortal world. Plus, he struck up a super sweet romance with Eleanor.
Before The Good Place, Harper filled his resume with numerous big and small-screen appearances. Eagle-eyed viewers may remember his guest-starring roles on shows such as The Blacklist and Person of Interest. But the supernatural sitcom, The Good Place, became Harper’s breakout performance.
Now that The Good Place is over, Harper has a handful of new projects simmering, including Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad series. Fans can also look forward to seeing the actor in the films, We Broke Up and The Man in the Woods.
The stars of The Good Place have moved on to other projects. But fans can still revisit the series, which is streaming now on Netflix.
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