Brett Gelman Dishes On The Bonkers Conspiracy Theories In Inside Job - Exclusive

Brett Gelman just can't quit his hilarious conspiracy theory adjacent characters, and fans couldn't be more pleased. Whether he's coming up with baffling (and often true) conspiracy theories as Murray on "Stranger Things" or his new role as Magic Myc in the Netflix animated series "Inside Job," there's no better guy to cook up something confounding. During Myc's time as a sentient mushroom at the secret cabal Cognito, he sees his fair share of theories the shady organization tries to cover up.

In an exclusive interview with Looper, the actor explained why he's drawn to roles like Murray and Myc, saying, "I'm drawn to these roles because it's always interesting. Conspiracy provides a lot of drama and comedy, and satire." He went on to add, "It's also, once you delve into a conspiracy-type world, it's kind of never-ending. It's the gift that keeps on giving because you can just keep creating more and more insane things that we believe."

Everyone loves a good underdog, and Gelman is on the same page, saying, "It's also a great way to show the underdog coming up because nobody believes them. But in the case of this show —That's more of the case, I'd say, of Murray in 'Stranger Things.' But in the case of this, it's like the whole world — that's their reality."

Conspiracy theories are certainly a timely topic given today's climate, and Brett Gelman enjoys exploring their many nuances. "I love how the show, in general, just tackles the anxiety of this time, where it feels like we're constantly living in a conspiracy theory. And it's almost now that it almost feels at times like the things that are just normal is the conspiracy," he shared with Looper.

Gelman then pointed out that the number of people who believe far-fetched conspiracies is staggering, and it's gotten to the point where people often can't tell the difference between satire and reality. He notes, "That's how omnipresent conspiracies are in the zeitgeist, and that there are huge numbers of people worldwide, let alone Americans, who believe in conspiracies as fact. So, I really love that we're making fun of that. I hope that some of these people will watch the show and be like, 'Yeah, oh, this is insane. Maybe the things I'm reading are insane.' Or at least think about it. You know?"

He went on to say, "Somebody who thinks that certain theories that have been buried are not true. There are definitely things going on that we're not aware of in the general public, but we're also not aware of them." Conspiracies are like a religion, Gelman explained. "It's like you're seeing that something you've thought up and you believe to be true is fact. Now, if you want to believe that and live your life according to that, okay, but don't push that onto somebody else. Don't expect your government and your society to function in conjunction with that. But you're allowed to believe whatever you want to believe."

"Inside Job" cast member Brett Gelman also touched on fanaticism, and how [it] can bring out divisions amongst us. He remarked, "But with every religion if taken too far, it's bad. It can separate us and divide us. And you give into those at the top, who are the not-so-pure people who are top officials of that religion. I'm saying this very articulately. There are people who are at the top levels of certain sects of every religion that are only interested in power, but I'm saying the obvious right now."

The animated series, however, plays with that concept in a lighthearted manner. "So, anyway, I like that the show makes fun of all of that. I mean, I love the whole idea of a robot president, and I love that they take these huge conspiracies and then dumb them down to the point of an office comedy — make the conspiracies just so ridiculous, even though they are real," he added. "I mean, that's really my favorite aspect of the show — normalizing conspiracies and thus pointing out how ridiculous they actually are."

The first 10 episodes of "Inside Job" are now streaming on Netflix.