Manifest Star Discusses Unique Aspects of Her New Crime Show Compared to NBC’s Supernatural Drama

Melissa Roxburgh, prominent for her role in the supernatural drama Manifest, delves into her new character in NBC’s crime series, The Hunting Party. In , Roxburgh portrayed Michaela Stone, a police officer who, alongside her brother Ben, portrayed by Josh Dallas, navigated the complexities of returning from Montego Air Flight 828, which mysteriously landed five and a half years after departure. Upon their return, Michaela and Ben, along with the other passengers, experienced eerie phenomena called Callings, leading to internal struggles and external conflicts throughout the series.

Despite a successful three-season run on NBC, faced cancellation, leaving fans with unresolved cliffhangers. The show’s popularity surged on Netflix, prompting a passionate viewer campaign that ultimately resulted in a fourth and concluding season. Unlike its predecessors, which featured thirteen episodes, season four was divided into two parts, each containing ten episodes. The finale aimed to bring closure to the narrative, albeit eliciting mixed reactions from its audience.

Melissa Roxburgh Discusses the Differences and Similarities of The Hunting Party and Manifest

Her Characters Share a Common Profession

In her current role in , Roxburgh portrays Rebecca “Bex”Henderson, an FBI agent engaged in tracking down serial killers who have escaped from a high-security facility known as The Pit. This new series highlights a more grounded approach compared to the supernatural elements of Manifest. In her previous role, Michaela Stone also worked in law enforcement, allowing for a nuanced connection between the two characters.

Joining Roxburgh in is Patrick Sabongui, known for his portrayal of David Singh in CW’s .While discussing the distinct themes of the two series, Roxburgh emphasized the realism of her new role. Compared to the chaotic and fantastical elements present in , adopts a more realistic tone, focusing on a high-concept plot while remaining relatable.

Manifest was super sci-fi. I feel like we went into different worlds with Al-Zuras and the cloud coming at us in the airplane and the burning hands and all that stuff, voices in your head.[The Hunting Party] is a bit more grounded in reality despite it being a very high-concept idea about this panopticon, this place called The Pit. I kind of like it that there’s no voices in your head.

I used to joke that it was just Michaela with a promotion, but well, promotion to the Royal Hearts Casino where she plays as a security guard. But I think Bex Henderson is a bit more sturdy. When we met Michaela in Manifest, she was a hot mess. She was going through a lot and she kind of took a while to find her footing and be okay with herself. Whereas I feel like Bex knows who she is. She knows she’s got her job. She’s very intelligent. She knows how to do her job well. She just has some bad luck. And so getting back into the Bureau, going after these killers, I think she’s ready to go. She’s ready to do what she’s really good at.

Analyzing Melissa Roxburgh’s Insights

The Hunting Party: A Promising Follow-Up to Manifest

Michaela and Ben Stone from the Manifest series finale

Each season of showcased broad narratives with a range of mysteries intertwined with individual episodic storylines driven by the Callings. In contrast, The Hunting Party leans heavily into a procedural format, centering on Bex and her team as they tackle various serial cases. Fans who appreciated the procedural elements and Roxburgh’s role as a law enforcement officer will find a compelling watch, despite its departure from the fantastical themes familiar in .

The Hunting Party airs on Mondays at 10 P. M.ET on NBC.

Source: TVLine

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