Kal Penn Was Ready to Get Naked for Industry

Kal Penn’s character, Jay Jonah Atterbury, in the fourth season of Industry, takes familiar traits from his previous role as Kumar and twists them. What used to be playful and laid-back now comes across as unpleasant, especially when laced with casual racism. His self-deprecating humor feels less like a charm and more like a shield. Penn skillfully portrays Jonah, a co-founder of the fintech firm Tender, as arrogant and self-important. However, the season premiere also sets him up as a surprisingly sympathetic figure when he’s betrayed by his close friend and business partner, Whitney. This betrayal suggests Jonah might be one of many characters who will buckle under the pressure of the competitive world depicted in the show throughout the season.







