Scott McCord may know where From is headed, but keeping the show’s biggest twists under wraps hasn’t always been easy.
During a recent appearance on The SDR Show, McCord joined hosts Ralph Sutton and Aaron Berg, along with Mike Figs and Shannon Lee, to reflect on auditioning for the hit MGM+ horror series From, filming during the COVID-19 pandemic, and why he believes fans can trust that the show’s ending has been planned from the very beginning.
Scott McCord Knew Almost Nothing About Victor When He Auditioned For ‘From’
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McCord revealed that he auditioned for From about five or six years ago, just one day after celebrating his 50th birthday. Like many actors trying out for highly secretive productions, he was given very little information about the project.
“I was given two scenes of Victor’s,” he recalled on The SDR Show.
At the time, McCord only knew that the series followed a group of people trapped in a mysterious town and that it came from the producers behind Lost. He wasn’t even sure the project was officially called From yet.
One of the audition scenes featured Victor’s first appearance in Season 1, Episode 2, when he stumbles upon Julie tied up outside the pantry while searching for canned peaches before asking about the mysterious “two cars.” The other scene showed Victor meeting Ethan outside Colony House while measuring trees.
“I didn’t have any information about that or the two cars or who Julie was or any of that,” McCord said. “It was a pretty bare-bones kind of thing.”
Despite knowing so little about the role, McCord ultimately landed the part, and Victor has since become one of From’smost beloved and enigmatic characters.
Filming ‘From’ Meant Months Away From His Family, And Keeping Huge Spoilers Secret
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McCord also spoke candidly with Sutton about filming the show’s early seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because of travel restrictions, he spent roughly five months away from his family while shooting and wasn’t able to travel home between filming.
That created another challenge once production wrapped each day.
“I gotta come home and talk to her on the phone and she’ll be like, ‘How was work today?’ And I can’t tell her,” McCord explained.
Fortunately, his wife has always preferred to experience From as a viewer rather than learning spoilers ahead of time.
“I love the fact that she really stands by this thing: ‘Don’t tell me anything. I want to experience it.’”
Still, McCord admitted he isn’t perfect at keeping secrets.
While discussing one of the show’s major character deaths, he accidentally let a spoiler slip during a conversation with his wife.
“I was like, ‘Well, you know…’ and then she goes, ‘Wait a minute, did you just say this?’” McCord recalled.
Figs joked that McCord had essentially revealed someone had died by mentioning that production was cleaning blood off his shirt.
“Whose blood?” the actor quipped, imagining his wife’s reaction.
Scott McCord Says From Has Always Had a Long-Term Plan
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Later in the conversation, Sutton brought up another topic that has long intrigued From fans: whether the show’s mysteries are building toward a planned ending.
Referencing Lost, Sutton noted that some viewers were disappointed with how that series concluded and wondered whether From was mapping out its story in advance or figuring things out season by season.
McCord said his understanding is that creator John Griffin has always envisioned From as a five- or six-season story with major milestones already established.
“I think he’s always… Saw it as a five or six-season show with certain milestones for each season,” McCord explained.
According to the actor, those milestones may shift from one episode to another during the writing process, but the overall direction has remained consistent.
McCord also said he noticed a collaborative relationship develop between the writers and cast as Victor’s story evolved, with Griffin incorporating ideas that emerged throughout the creative process.
“It seemed to kind of… we’re working together where he’s weaving that into the writing,” McCord said, describing it as “a really cool collaboration.”
Although smaller story beats may evolve during production, McCord said the series has always felt like it was moving toward a larger destination.
When Sutton asked whether knowing there was an overarching plan gave him confidence in the show’s ending, McCord didn’t hesitate.
“Oh yeah,” he replied. “It gives me a little peace.”