Danny Pudi has spent years perfecting the art of playing characters who see the world differently—whether it’s Abed’s hyper-meta film brain in Community or Brad’s razor-sharp corporate scheming in Mythic Quest. But now, he’s stepping behind the camera, directing his first episode of Mythic Quest’s third season. “I spent a lot of time apologizing,” he says with a laugh. “I wanted to make sure everyone knew—this is new for me. I have no idea how this is going to go.” The result? Playpen, an episode that takes Brad’s character arc into unexpected new depths, while also giving Pudi a crash course in balancing power dynamics. “It’s weird, because you’re suddenly in charge of your own co-stars, but they were so supportive. It’s season three, so we know each other’s rhythms—I just had to not screw it up.”
Brad, of course, is a character defined by his ability to manipulate. But season three presents a dilemma: has he actually changed, or is this just another long con? “That’s the central question,” Pudi says. “Is he reformed? How much do we show? Brad is the villain you want on your side—he’s devious, but sometimes his motives actually help people. He went to jail for Joe last season, but does that mean he’s good? I don’t even know.” The joy, he admits, is in the ambiguity. “I love that we try different things in every scene, just to see what works. The edits help shape who Brad actually is, because he’s not telling anyone—not even me.”
Pudi also reveals that, despite playing two intensely analytical characters—Abed and Brad—he himself isn’t exactly a master strategist. “People think I’m like them, but I’m not. I’m not some pop culture encyclopedia like Abed, and I have no idea how corporate power structures work like Brad does.” He did, however, have some real-world inspiration for Brad’s cryptic persona. “I used to work in an office in Chicago, and I had these co-workers who just disappeared after 5 PM. No one knew anything about them. I’d invent entire backstories in my head—who were they? What did they do? That’s Brad. He’s a guy you never really know outside of work.”
Of course, Mythic Quest isn’t the only ensemble that Pudi is part of. With the long-awaited Community movie finally in motion, he acknowledges how surreal it is that the six-seasons-and-a-movie prophecy is actually happening. “We always said it as a joke, but the fans made it real. We were almost canceled so many times—it felt like we were making a secret web series that nobody was watching. Then I’d go to Comic-Con and see people in Inspector Spacetime costumes, and I’d think, Oh, this thing actually matters to people.” While there’s no official start date, Pudi is thrilled to get the gang back together. “We’ve had some discussions, but nothing’s formal yet. Mostly, we’re just excited. The fans kept us alive, and now we get to pay it forward.”
With Mythic Quest, Community, and now Avatar: The Last Airbender, Pudi is living every nerd’s dream, playing in worlds where the stakes are high and the chaos is delightful. And while he won’t spill much about his Avatar role, he does let one thing slip: “There were prosthetics involved. I love when I get to transform.” Even when he’s not playing a trickster like Brad, Pudi is still finding ways to keep the audience guessing.
Watch the interview above and then check out the video below.
