This is us they are Sterling K. Brown He recalls a missed opportunity as he prepares for the debut of his new television series, heaven.

"This is us Offer a bit of catharsis. Usually, at the end of every episode, you've got a chance to put a burden on," Brown said diversity In an interview published on January 24, referring to the new series. “On this one, the burdens just keep piling up. It's more intrigue and anticipation."

While this new Hulu series gives Brown a chance to grow in a different direction than his beloved character, Randall Pearson, he reunites. Dan Fogelmanwho serves as the series creator and executive producer — in the same role This is us. And unlike his last experience with Fogelman, Brown said, he may direct an episode (or more) of the new series.

“The thing I'm most interested in is performance. As a director, you have to be curious about everything. And sometimes I think, 'I don't really care about that,'" he explained. "I'll let the world-builders do their thing. But if I'm going to do it, it's going to be a fun opportunity, because I'm the crew. I know. I know they'll be behind me."

Brown is also an executive producer on the new show — a position that has given him the chance to really dig into the details of the series, such as the show's '80s-inspired soundtrack.

“It's almost too good BridgertonWhich I was keeping track of on the epidemic," he explained. "It's like we took these very familiar songs and we updated them into covers. I remember a cover of Jordan Peele's 'I Got 5 On It' on 'Us'. Did—ba-dump bam, ba-dump bam. And as soon as you heard it in the trailer, every black person was like, 'Oh, s-t!' Got it!' We're hoping for a certain demographic, they'll hear the songs and be like, 'Oh, s--t.'

Partnering with Fogelman on the new Hulu series was easy, the actor also said. "He goes, 'I wrote this show, and as I was writing it I realized I was writing it for you.' He said, 'If you're not interested, that's fine, I understand - but if you are, then we can talk about it.' So I was like, 'Dude, you wrote six years of dope-ass shit - let me see a little bit.'

heaven Set in a quiet, affluent community and follows the story of Xavier Collins, a Secret Service agent and father of two whose world is turned upside down after the assassination of a former US president.

As Brown puts it, “heaven Exploring that story, but also how people deal with crisis, how you move forward when the world is turned upside down and you don't necessarily see a way forward but there is."

heaven Premieres January 28 on Hulu.