Eric McCormack steps into darker territory with a chilling Season 2 role
As a lead character in the beloved Will & Grace, Eric McCormack showcased his comedic timing and endeared himself to audiences. While he will always be associated with that role, recent projects delve into darker, complex characters. In his latest role on NBC’s The Hunting Party, the unique opportunity not only pushed him out of his comfort zone but also offered him a rare experience available to only a few actors.
NBC’s The Hunting Party returns for Season 2. For those unfamiliar with the series, the nation’s most dangerous killers have escaped from a super prison. A small investigative group, led by FBI agent Rebecca “Bex” Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh), tracks these criminals and tries to stop them before they cause additional harm to the public.
For the Season 2 premiere, Eric McCormack stars as escaped serial killer Ron Simms. In a unique casting decision, Eric plays present-day Ron Simms, while his son, Finnegan McCormack, portrays the character earlier in life — offering an origin story for the killer.
Ahead of his The Hunting Party episode, Eric McCormack graciously spoke about appearing on the show, his thoughts on playing a serial killer, and the opportunity to work alongside his son.
When asked how he responded to the concept of his real-life son portraying the younger Ron Simms, McCormack appreciated both the uniqueness of the idea and the chance to support his son’s acting debut. Though the concept originated with the producers, the execution proves effective.
In every scene, there is nuance and subtlety. Although Ron Simms is diabolical, there is something charming — even charismatic — about the character. Both Eric and Finnegan McCormack employ subtle facial expressions and mannerisms that mirror one another, making the episode particularly compelling.
According to McCormack, father and son discussed the character extensively. Because the episode jumps between two different stages of Simms’ life, creating a complete emotional arc was essential.
When asked how he collaborated with Finnegan on the character’s development, McCormack explained, “I think what I do as older Ron is very tough for an audience to find any empathy in it, which comes from Finn’s performance. Not every episode gets to show the killer when he or she was younger. This was a real luxury — not just to work together, but to show a wider range of the character.”
Although empathy for a serial killer is rare, McCormack brings a strange magnetism to the role. There is an unsettling charisma that makes it easy to see how people might overlook the darker aspects of Simms’ personality.
When asked whether audiences might be surprised by his performance, McCormack said, “In the last few years, I’ve played a number of killers. Every time I work with a new director, they’ll say people are going to be surprised. I guess so — but I know I can play a sadistic killer.”
He added, “I love the surprise. I love it when someone who hasn’t seen me do that gets shocked that Will Truman can be the maniac.”
Speaking of Will Truman, Will & Grace remains an important part of television history, though Finnegan once admitted he had never seen the show. McCormack addressed that sentiment with perspective.
“I think kids growing up in families — particularly in L.A. — where the parents are in the business, sometimes you need a separation of church and state,” he said. For them, it was simply about going to work, not mandatory viewing.
While Finnegan may have some of his father’s past work left to discover, this episode of The Hunting Party highlights the strong connection the pair share both on and off the screen — a concept audiences may hope to see explored again.
The Hunting Party Season 2 debuts on January 8, 2026. New episodes air Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with streaming available on Peacock.
Tags: eric mccormack, the hunting party, nbc television, tv interviews, peacock streaming
