Inside The Evolution Of Joel Maisel: Michael Zegen Speaks About His Character's Journey

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at one of TV’s most intriguing transformations. As Closer Weekly recently reported, courtesy of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Alex Bornstein, the Amazon series' second season is all about embracing change. For Michael Zegen, who plays the often-maligned Joel Maisel, this theme hits home in a big way. If you recall, Joel’s actions in the first season premiere flipped Midge Maisel’s life upside down, inadvertently pushing her into the world of stand-up comedy — a journey that’s captivated audiences worldwide.

“When we first introduced Joel in the pilot episode,” Michael shares in an exclusive sit-down, “it was honestly one of the worst moments of his life. He was in the midst of a total meltdown. Hating his job, dreaming of becoming a stand-up comedian — a dream that wasn’t exactly panning out for him — and, let’s face it, having an affair. It wasn’t exactly his finest hour. So, when the audience met him, they instantly disliked him because they absolutely adore Midge. And who could blame them? But my mission this season is to humanize Joel a little more. It’s not so much about redemption as it is about showing his complexity. I want people to see him as more than just the guy who messed everything up.”

Season 2: A Fresh Start for Joel Maisel

Michael, now 39 years old, makes it clear that he didn’t need to plead with the producers to give Joel a redemption arc. “From Season 1 to Season 2, there’s been a massive transformation,” he explains. “It would’ve been the easy route to keep Joel as the bad guy, but the creators of the show had something much more dynamic in mind. In the early episodes, Joel is still somewhat of an antagonist, but that wasn’t the endgame. The writing team always planned for him to have a full character arc, and this season delivers on that promise. It’s about showing the layers of Joel’s personality and how he evolves over time.”