To the unstudied eye, Future Man, Seth Rogen’s new venture on Hulu, might come off as the one-dimensional comic-book style show its title suggests. But at New York Comic Con on Friday, the show’s producers and cast revealed that the American Pie meets Terminator series is really an amalgamation of genres and influences.

“We like to pervert genres – like with Sausage Party – we are just ruining genres as we go along,” joked show creator Kyle Hunter. Fellow creator Ariel Shaffir admitted there are distinct nods to Back to the Future, Pulp Fiction, Top Gun, Terminator and even Easy Rider (spoiler alert: the pilot features a motorcycle scene).

The show’s star, Josh Hutcherson, who plays a gaming obsessed janitor-turned-action hero, shared that while video games aren’t something he’s personally passionate about, Future Man resonates on many different levels. “I’m not a huge gamer,” Hutcherson said at New York Comic Con, but said he identifies with his character’s drive to find ‘creative and peaceful solutions’ to violent problems (in this case, the end of humanity).

One element that is out of character, though, for the creators of films like Sausage Party is a strong female role. Eliza Coupe plays Tiger, a savage Amazonian-type warrior who time travels back to Josh to recruit him to save humanity from its dystopian future. Tiger is the clear brains behind the operation and her sidekick Wolf, played with cave man panache by Derek Wilson (of Preacher fame), is more comedic relief. “We really liked the idea of Eliza [Tiger] being the leader and Wolf being the grunt,” said showrunner Ben Karlin.

But not to worry – there are enough dirty jokes in Future Man to distract from any perceived messages about women’s empowerment. “Certainly nothing went too far over the line enough to cut it,” said Shaffir.

Hutcherson admitted that for him if it came down to Future Man vs. Peeta (of Hunger Games fame), he’d opt to play Future Man. “They are vastly different but this role’s a lot of fun, I gotta say,” Hutcherson said.

Hutcherson’s co-star, Haley Joel Osment, who takes an unexpected turn as Josh’s lab-coat wearing nemesis, agreed: “Some of the most fun you’ll ever have is playing a jerk.”

And having Seth Rogen on set just added to the fun. “Seth has this iconic laugh…When you hear those laughs you know you’re really doing it,” Hutcherson said. “You just kind of have to be ready for the unexpected.”

Future Man debuts on Hulu November 14.

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