Gregg Sulkin’s Masterful Deception in The Kollective: A Shocking Twist Unveiled

The series debuted on June 10 with Sulkin playing the lead role of Joshua, an intrepid journalist embroiled in a hazardous investigation overseas. Much to viewers’ surprise, Joshua meets an untimely end by the episode’s conclusion, even though Sulkin’s name remains prominent in the opening credits.

“Personally, it was a huge benefit,” Sulkin, 33, shared exclusively with Us Weekly about the Hulu series. “I’ve never quite had the chance to intentionally misdirect the audience like this before. It’s quite exciting to know you’re about to lead viewers astray, and it’s an interesting challenge to make a significant impact in a brief span.”

Sulkin felt the urgency to make the audience connect with Joshua swiftly, mentioning, “With the director and writer’s assistance, I think we really achieved that goal and I was delighted. I really cherished the cast, and it would have been wonderful to spend more time with them. But to be fair, I quickly moved on to another project, so it aligned perfectly with my schedule.”

The Kollective unravels after Joshua’s fate inspires rookie journalists to unearth governmental deceit through a perilous probe. Besides Sulkin, the ensemble cast includes Natascha McElhone, Celine Buckens, Felix Mayr, and Grégory Montel. Joshua’s death sets the dramatic tone for the season, but Sulkin returned for a harrowing scene detailing his character’s demise.

Sulkin recounted feeling conflicted about the intense scene. “It’s a strange experience, honestly. My parents were understandably upset, as you can imagine. This is something parents never wish to witness,” Sulkin reflected. “So, lying there in a morgue setting was a very surreal moment for me.”

Sulkin went through a spectrum of emotions. “I’ve never particularly feared dying. I’ve accepted it as an eventual reality, hopefully a distant one, but certain nonetheless,” he mused. “I wasn’t overly emotional about it, but for those who know me personally, it was quite a disconcerting thing to see.”

Before shooting the scenes involving Joshua’s postmortem state, Sulkin suggested his parents relax at the hotel rather than on set. Playing dead posed unexpected challenges for Sulkin. “You try not to breathe. There’s also this unspoken pressure to remain utterly still when someone like Celine is delivering an incredible performance,” he explained. “An actor only has so much to give, and it’s respectful not to distract during an intense close-up. Especially when it’s such a moving scene.”

Sulkin added, “It was immensely tough to hold my breath as she wept. Then the director assured me, ‘We’ll keep you still in post-production.’ I thought, ‘Why wasn’t this shared earlier? I nearly had a heart attack trying to stay motionless!’