‘Adults’ Star Malik Elassal Is Plotting an Unlikely Season 3 Cameo for a High-Profile NYC Politician
A definite possibility.
The hit FX series Adults does an incredible job of capturing the specific, messy, and hilarious uncertainty that defines one’s mid-twenties. While fans are currently waiting for word on a potential Season 3, cast member Malik Elassal is already thinking about who he wants to bring into the fold if the show returns. It turns out that Elassal has his sights set on a rather high-profile guest for a future cameo, and it is a move that would certainly shake up the Queens-set comedy.
According to Deadline, Elassal, who portrays the endearingly emotional Samir, recently floated the idea of bringing NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani on. During a video filmed atop the Empire State Building, Elassal did not shy away from the ambition of his plan.
He told his audience, “Dude, let’s get Zohran on the show… like we have his contact information,” before adding, “Well, he’s from Queens. He would just be like campaigning still, and then Anton’s like, ‘Honey, you don’t have to do this. Get in here!’ And then we just have a night.” He noted, “And I feel like we could make this happen. We have mutuals. It’s crazy to have mutuals with the mayor.”
It is a wild concept, but Elassal is confident that it could actually happen
The prospect of having a local politician pop up in a show about five roommates navigating life in New York City feels right at home with the series’ vibe. In the show, Samir opens up his family home in Queens to his friends, creating a central hub for the group. The series has already established a history of bringing in high-caliber guests.
Season 2 saw appearances from Raven-Symoné, Zosia Mamet, Gaten Matarazzo, Isaac Cole Powell, Ben Marshall, and Jake Shane, alongside a return from Season 1 guest Julia Fox. Adding a figure like the mayor to that list would definitely be a top-tier move for the production.
For Elassal, the show has been an incredible journey of exploring his own identity and the nuances of the human experience. As he has discussed in the past, the transition between the first and second seasons of the show was all about the shift from not having your s— together to trying to keep it all in check. It is a relatable struggle for anyone in their mid-twenties who feels like they are suddenly expected to become a fully formed person while still navigating massive life changes.
Elassal told Esquire that he is a very emotional person, and he puts a lot of that into his character. He even uses personal tricks while filming, like listening to specific songs from his own past, to cast little nostalgia spells on himself and really tap into those genuine emotions.
The audience’s reaction to Samir has been a surprise even to him
He says it is common for fans to reach out and tell him that they have a friend who is exactly like Samir. He finds it sweet when people say they watch the show with their friends because it hits so close to home. Elassal has also noted, with a bit of humor, that he is still trying to figure out exactly what it means when fans tell him they want to “s— Samir out.” This sense of genuine connection makes the show feel grounded.
When people compare the show to classic sitcoms like Friends, Elassal is quick to acknowledge the influence of the genre while noting that his series is speaking to a different set of challenges. He grew up watching those types of shows and feeling excited about the idea of reaching that stage of life.
However, he recognizes that growing up today does not look the same as it did in previous decades. There is a new set of hurdles for young people, and he hopes that Adults captures some of that same magic while staying true to the current moment.
Being unapologetically Lebanese in his comedy is a core part of who Elassal is
However, he has always been focused on making sure his material resonates with everyone. His early goal was to avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes just to get a cheap laugh. He grew up in a supportive Lebanese community and attended Islamic school, and he spent years performing in small towns across Canada where he might have been the first Arab person some of his audience members had ever met. This taught him how to make his stories feel universal, even when they are deeply rooted in his own culture.
Elassal is also optimistic about how Arab representation is evolving in the media today. While he acknowledges that there is still plenty of negativity and bigotry in the world, he believes that audiences are becoming much more open to a diverse range of stories. He looks forward to a future where it is less about checking boxes for representation and more about the quality of the presentation itself.
(Featured image: Paul Dukovic/FX – © FX)
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