The unexpected return of Michael J. Fox to the screen with the third season of Shrinking surprised the public.
In this new stage, the actor played Jerry, a Parkinson’s patient, and worked again with Bill Lawrence, the creator of the series, with whom he shared the experience of Spin City.
Fox, diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 29, interrupted his retirement after watching the program.
According to what he told People, after finishing the episodes, he called Lawrence and said with his characteristic humor: “How did they make a series about Parkinson’s and not call me?”
The comment, which caused laughter, became the starting point for his return.
Lawrence confirmed to the LA Times that every time Fox announced his retirement, he believed it, but it didn’t take long for a new opportunity to collaborate.
In Shrinking’s fiction, his character crossed paths with Dr.Paul Rhoades, played by Harrison Ford.
Both characters live with Parkinson’s, which allowed them to share experiences and humor, two elements that define the tone of their scenes.
When speaking about his meeting with Ford, the artist told the LA Times that he turned out to be “incredibly kind and attentive.”
He explained that observing the way his scene partner approached his character allowed him to understand why he is one of the most recognized figures in cinema.
For Michael J. Fox, returning to the set did not imply a campaign to relaunch his career.His motivation was much more personal: he was looking for something that would be fun and genuine.
He explained to People that, for the first time, he arrived on set without worrying about being tired or coughing: “It was the first time I was on set and I didn’t have to worry about being too tired or coughing or anything else.”
“I just do it. It was very good, because in the moments where I say, ‘I’m not going to be able to do it,’ then I say, ‘Well, I’ll just deal with the fact that I can’t do it in the scene.’ And you get over it,” he summarized.
When physical difficulties arose, he decided to integrate them into the scene, thus achieving a naturalness that was unusual on television.
The origin of the character of Jerry occurred in dialogue with Bill Lawrence.The actor asked not to play himself living with Parkinson’s, but rather “some guy.”
Lawrence told People that Fox’s addition took the story to “a new level of authenticity.”
Furthermore, he recognized that the disease should not be seen as a sentence, but as a condition in which hope and a sense of humor can be maintained.
The dynamic between Fox and Ford’s characters served to show the importance of finding a peer, someone who shares the same experience.
In that sense, Michael J. Fox stressed to the LA Times that “only someone who really lives it can understand it.”
According to Lawrence, the writing team avoided superficial compassion and opted for a perspective based on hope and humor.
On set, the actor’s return was greeted with enthusiasm by both the young and the more experienced team.
Bill Lawrence told People that everyone highlighted his “impressive sense of humor,” a quality that is still present in his work.
In addition, Fox’s presence provided a special atmosphere during the recordings and allowed new members of the team to appreciate his style and professionalism.
During his retirement years, the Back to the Future star dedicated his time to both his family and the foundation that bears his name.
Now, with her children grown, she decided to return to acting occasionally.
As he himself explained to the LA Times, he is not looking for professional recognition or starting a new stage in his career, but rather taking advantage of opportunities that he finds valuable and pleasurable.
“And I thought, ‘Just do it for the sake of it.’ I don’t have any plans. I don’t have to go back to acting or anything. It’ll be fun. And then there’s Harrison Ford, which is crazy,” he said.
Regarding his relationship with Parkinson’s, Fox said that the disease added to his life “a more dynamic dimension full of possibilities.”
He insisted that his goal is to live fully, take advantage of every opportunity and continue doing what he loves until the end.
The third season of Shrinking premiered its first episode on January 28 and will continue with new chapters every Wednesday until April on Apple TV.
