Hulu’s New Time Travel Sci-Fi Has Two Hilarious Movies In One, Teases Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Stars

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Hulu’s latest sci-fi series blends multiple genres, and its creators say it feels like watching two movies at once.

Okay, so BenDavid Grabinski, who brought us Happily, is back with Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, and wow, this one is a lot. It’s a really fun blend of sci-fi, action, comedy, and even a bit of a gangster flick. The story centers around Vince Vaughn playing Nick, a guy who gets a chance to travel back in time to prevent the death of his friend, Mike (played by James Marsden). It’s all tied up in this crazy night where things went wrong, and it also affects his relationship with the woman they both care about, Alice, played by Eiza González. Expect a lot of action, some laughs, and a surprising amount of soul-searching – and, yeah, a good number of people don’t make it through the night.

I’m really excited about the cast director Grabinski has put together for this film! Alongside the already known Vaughn, Marsden, and González, they’ve brought in some fantastic actors like Keith David, who’s won Emmys three times over, and rising stars like Jimmy Tatro from the new Scream movie. Emily Hampshire, Arturo Castro, Lewis Tan, Ben Schwartz, and Stephen Root are all in it too – seriously, it’s a great group! The movie, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, actually premiered at SXSW and seems to be getting pretty good reactions from the critics before it hits streaming on March 27th.

At the SXSW festival, ScreenRant‘s Ash Crossan spoke with Vince Vaughn, Eiza González, Jimmy Tatro, and BenDavid Grabinski about their film, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. Jimmy Tatro explained how his role felt separate from the main story, comparing it to a “parallel story” alongside the time travel adventures of the central characters, and even referencing a feeling similar to that of Keith David’s performance.

Working with the other actor was really fun because we had such different energies. He has a very serious and powerful presence, so even when he’d deliver a silly line, it felt unexpected and hilarious. My character, Jimmy Boy, is all about being playful and a bit chaotic, so the contrast was great. It was interesting to see how our different approaches played off each other and created a funny dynamic.

Vaughn described the relationship between Jimmy Boy and Sosa as deeply emotional, saying he especially enjoyed the father-son dynamic between them. He agreed with Tatro that this relationship perfectly showcased the film’s unique tone, as it allowed audiences to see a genuine connection between the two characters even amidst the comedy and action.

Grabinski explained that David was intentionally playing Sosa for laughs, and watching him do so was “my favorite thing” about filming. He remembered often suggesting jokes to David from across the set, and David would consider them before bursting into loud laughter.

I realized it would work because I didn’t need to explain the humor to him; he just got it. As they developed a scene, I’d understand the core of what they were trying to achieve. I’d then look for a natural pause in the dialogue for him to say his line to Jimmy, and it always landed perfectly.

González complimented Castro’s comedic performance in Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, noting it was another illustration of the cast leading dual existences during filming – essentially working on two distinct movies at once. She highlighted Castro and the supporting characters as a fantastic contrast to the film’s science fiction aspects, and praised the writer/director for skillfully managing the tonal shifts between the main story and these side narratives.

I was so fascinated to hear how that incredibly moving monologue came to be! Apparently, it started from a really sad place. The director actually lost his cat during pre-production and was understandably heartbroken. He channeled that grief into David’s scene, essentially writing about his cat through Tatro’s character. It’s amazing to me how he turned something so personal and painful into a moment that Grabinski described as both charming and surprisingly funny – it just proves how powerful and versatile his writing is.

The scene originated from a genuinely dramatic situation, but what I find hilarious is Jimmy’s reaction. Specifically, watching him listen to Keith David deliver a lengthy speech, process it, and then randomly say, “Like a duck” – a line I didn’t even write! It always makes me laugh. It seems to come out of nowhere, and on its own, it doesn’t make any sense, but within the scene, it’s incredibly funny.

Grabinski Wanted Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice To Be About “Emotionally Complicated” Characters, Along With Being A Fun Time

ScreenRant: Who is Future Nick, and who is Present Nick?

I think it’s like BenDavid said – it’s fun to play a character who’s learned from past experiences. It gives you a chance to revisit those moments and imagine handling them with more grace and wisdom.

ScreenRant asked about my initial reaction to the idea of playing a dual role, and what specifically drew me to the challenge of acting opposite myself.

We discussed how to approach the story, and BenDavid had some great initial ideas. The goal was to make both characters relatable, even when one of them is making poor choices – we wanted the audience to root for him to change. That emotional journey, particularly through the relationship between my character and James Marsden’s, is really at the heart of the film. What I appreciate about the movie is that it features a group of friends who genuinely care for each other, despite having made some mistakes. Nick’s return serves as a turning point, giving everyone a chance to confront their issues and improve.

As a film fan, I’m really drawn to stories with complex characters, and that’s what I’d love to create. I want to focus on adults with messy lives – not just heroes and villains, but people who are genuinely flawed and trying to navigate their experiences. I want to see them interact, grow, and make things complicated, because that feels much more real and interesting to me.

The interviewer at ScreenRant commented that Vince Vaughn and James Marsden had great chemistry together, feeling like a natural and long-standing pairing.

Everyone really enjoyed working with James Marsden. He’s a genuinely funny and talented person who’s consistently been great to be around.

For me, the best part of casting is finding the lead, like Vince, and then thinking about who would have amazing chemistry with him. It’s all about building a fun and dynamic energy between everyone involved. When I picture certain actors together, it just feels right – exciting and fresh! That’s how it works with every casting choice, really. It’s about finding a mix of personalities that you haven’t seen before, and just knowing it’ll be a fun combination.

Someone asked me about Alice, and I’m happy to share what I know! She’s a really interesting character. They wanted to know about her connection with Nick, and what Nick is like as a person, too. It’s a complex relationship, and understanding Nick’s personality is key to seeing how it all works.

I think my character, Alice, is unpredictable – you really don’t know what to expect from her. She’s energetic, strong-willed, but also playful and a bit distant. What’s fascinating about the relationship dynamics between the two Nicks is that it explores the ‘what if’ scenario – what if you revisited a past relationship after years apart? Alice has a clear vision for one relationship, but life quickly throws her unexpected challenges, forcing her to reconsider everything. That complexity is rare to see in a two-hour movie, compared to a seven-season TV show. I found that idea of forward momentum really intriguing, and it adds depth to the characters. Because of this, her connection with each Nick is different. There are moments where you feel a real understanding between them, and then others where you realize they didn’t understand her before. And her frustration sometimes comes out towards the older Nick. It also allowed for some really fun comedic moments.

ScreenRant noted the touching tribute to their friend, Scott Wampler, in the movie, and admitted they were surprised to find themselves immediately moved to tears when they saw it, as they’d completely forgotten it was included.

On my first day of preparing for the film in Winnipeg, a close friend of ours passed away. He also happened to know Steve Asbell, the head of the studio, so I decided to honor him by naming a hospital in the movie after him – it felt like the right thing to do. Watching the scene during editing, I realized it’s a subtle but meaningful way to remember someone, better than a simple dedication card. So, my advice to other filmmakers is this: if you want to honor a friend, name a building after them in your movie!

Be sure to dive into some of ScreenRant‘s other SXSW coverage with:

  • Sun Never Sets Review
  • Dead Eyes Review
  • One Another Review
  • Kill Me Review
  • Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Review
  • Saviors Review
  • Family Movie Review
  • Power Ballad Review
  • Seekers of Infinite Love Review
  • Normal Review
  • Over Your Dead Body Review
  • Sender Review
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2026-03-17 19:17