In today’s episode of Bingeworthy, our TV and streaming podcast host Mike DeAngelo explores the mind of a criminal in “The Crowded Room.” Created by Akiva Goldsman (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “I Am Legend”), the show follows Danny (Tom Holland), a young man who is arrested for a violent crime in 70’s Manhattan, and the complex case that arises from the accused man’s unique condition. The show is inspired by a true story and also stars Amanda Seyfried, Emmy Rossum, Christopher Abbott, Sasha Lane, and more.
Joining Bingeworthy to discuss the show is creator and showrunner Akiva Goldsman. The show has been met by critics with mixed reviews, and Goldsman has a theory as to why. In the most recent episodes, the show has finally revealed that Danny (Holland) has multiple personality disorders, and many of the characters you’ve met are actually Danny’s personalities. Goldsman believes the reviews stemmed from a request from Apple TV+ and Goldsman regarding these specific details.
“I think, you know, for those of us who are familiar with this gag in movies from ‘The Sixth Sense’ to ‘A Beautiful Mind.’ We’ve all done it – I’ve done it. We’ve all seen it.” Goldsman shared. “It’s about the audience learning about the condition of Danny’s mind. And it’s about Danny learning the condition of his mind. And Danny discovering that he’s fractured in that way. So, you know, I think it’s not hard to figure out pretty quickly. And then it’s supposed to be sort of fun to see who is and who isn’t [a personality] and how that plays out. It was very interesting because we did ask, and I think this was a mistake that we all made, is we sort of said when we sent it out, ‘Please don’t spoil it.’ And it got a very interesting response. People were angry that they were being told not to spoil it. The reviewers, there was a very funny thing about that, which I don’t understand, but at least the audiences seemed to really like it, and I think they are along for the ride.”
Star Tom Holland has been the center of many stories after revealing the stress he was under during production, which led to him taking a one-year break from acting. Goldsman shed some light on his perception of Holland’s experience and why the series may have been much more than the star bargained for.
“What was, I think, grueling was not actually the work, but the volume of work compared to the volume of work one does in a feature,” Goldsman said. “Because you must remember that we shot about 127 days for 10 hours of material. A Marvel movie shoots about 127 days for 2 hours of material, so the number of scenes you’re rocking through in a given day is just more pages every day on television. And they’re not easier. There’s just more of them… you’ve got to live in that character he created for a really long time, and there’s no respite. No green screen moments. There’s no, ‘And now we’ll have the Digi-double swing from the roof.’ It’s all Tom all the time.”
The interview also included a discussion of Goldsman’s time writing and working on Joel Schumacher’s Batman films in the ’90s. Recently, fans have discovered that a more extended, darker cut exists of “Batman Forever,” leading fans to rally for its release and even filmmakers like Kevin Smith to track down copies and detail the contents. So, has Goldsman seen the fan-dubbed “Schumacher Cut?” Of course, he has.
“I saw the other version [The ‘Schumacher Cut’] recently, and it’s funny because there’s been a swell on the internet for it, and I stay out of it mostly. Although, it’s got about 35% more psychological realism in it. You know, it’s really more about guilt and shame,” Goldsman said. “But the preview audience didn’t want it – the world wasn’t ready. Joel’s first cut had all of it in, and the audience was like, ‘Yeah, we just like the part where the guy’s funny and he’s scary and the big thing…’ And so, it got cut down into what it is.”
But will it ever see the light of day? Goldsman isn’t sure, but he’s undoubtedly in support of the fans seeing it one day.
“And I don’t know how Kevin [Smith] saw it or why, but it exists. And I’m certainly an advocate for it being in the world – just for Joel, you know? Because he died and he died quietly…You know, there wasn’t a lot of honoring him, and it would be a nice way to honor him, I think. And I think he’d get a kick out of it.”
Goldsman is also attached to writing two high-profile sequels for his former films, “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith and “Constantine” starring Keanu Reeves. Due to the writer’s strike, Goldsman could not offer too much of an update on the projects but was able to confirm that the sequels are still in the works.
“My pens are down, so there’s nothing to do. But, yeah, those are the next things I’m writing when I’m allowed to write again,” Goldsman said. “And I had already begun ‘[I Am] Legend 2’ when we [started striking], and Frances [Lawrence], Keanu [Reeves], and I have broken ‘Constantine 2.’ I just haven’t started typing yet.”
“The Crowded Room” is currently streaming on Apple TV+. Listen to the full interview with Akiva Goldsman below:
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