Alan Tudyk on starring in ‘Resident Alien,’ chewing on chicken bones, and the legacy of ‘Firefly’

Though it seems impossible to imagine Syfy’s Resident Alien without star Alan Tudyk in the leading role, he claims they auditioned over one hundred actors for it before he came along. We had a chance to chat with the performer typically seen in science-fiction fare like Dollhouse, Dirk Gently’s Detective Agency, and Doom Patrol about his latest part, one that makes so much sense and feels like he was born to play. Tudyk, who conveys a similar energy to that of his characters, reflected on the appeal of playing an alien who never planned to come to Earth, acting with an alien mask and getting to improvise, and the joy of eating exuberantly. He also commented on his hopes for the future of the series, with the existence of streaming services making its long life likely, something that might have saved his first big project, cult favorite Firefly. The second half of season two of Resident Alien will premiere soon on Syfy – catch up on existing episodes on Peacock now. Alan Tudyk is Emmy eligible for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.