Scott Foley Describes Playing a Charismatic Pastor on Faith-Based Show as ‘Intimidating’

While Scott Foley’s participation in the faith-oriented series It’s Not Like That positioned him alongside other captivating fictional religious figures, the actor harbors some doubts about the project.

“The fact that he was a pastor posed a double-edged sword for me,” Foley, 53, shared exclusively with Us Weekly regarding his portrayal of Pastor Malcolm in Wonder Project’s It’s Not Like That. “I’m not a religious adult. I was raised in a religious household as a child, so it’s a subject I’m not entirely unfamiliar with.”

Foley described the role as “scary,” stating, “He’s a community leader and a spiritual guide as a pastor. There’s a significant amount of responsibility that comes with that, but, more importantly, there’s a faith and belief that I find endlessly intriguing, which I needed to embody. It’s unlike any character I’ve portrayed and more complex than I anticipated.”

It’s Not Like That airs on Sundays and follows Malcolm as he navigates life after his wife’s passing. He manages the return to his congregation while raising his three children, and begins to form a closer bond with family friend Lori (Erinn Hayes).

“Malcolm represents a type of character we rarely see on television: a faith leader grappling with everyday struggles,” Foley pointed out. “For me, that makes him emotional and vulnerable. I love that aspect of him.”

Foley relished the challenge of bringing Malcolm to life.

“When they mentioned it was a faith-based show, I wondered, ‘Is that a catch? Will it hinder the storyline?’ I didn’t want to feel like I was being preached at,” he recalled. “It wasn’t like that at all. His role as a pastor is just part of who he is.”

Foley added: “The only religious aspect is that Malcolm is a pastor; that’s simply his profession. So I was fully on board and appreciated that about the show. … You’ll notice how significant his faith is and how it can at times act as a hindrance.”

Alongside Foley and Hayes, It’s Not Like That features J. R. Ramirez, Caleb Baumann, Cary Christopher, Leven Miranda, Cassidy Paul, and Liv Lindell.

“As a father of three, I have faced mental health challenges in my own family,” Foley, who is wed to Marika Domińczyk, shared with Us. “I can channel all my personal experiences, pain, love, and hope into these characters, as most people have dealt with similar struggles.”

It’s Not Like That aims to explore significant themes.

“I’m genuinely thrilled when a television series tackles these challenging subjects, as they’re tough to present engagingly because they feature prominently in our daily lives,” he elaborated. “However, our writers are brilliant, and they artfully incorporate deep emotions and vulnerabilities into the characters. We address mental health, alcohol issues, bullying, Title IX, unrequited love — the human experience is endlessly fascinating, and they do a wonderful job of narrating a meaningful story with simplicity.”

It’s Not Like That airs on Sundays on Wonder Project, with the first two episodes now available for streaming on Prime Video.