FX’s ‘Adults’ will air a standalone prequel episode showing Paul Baker’s origin story

FX said it will release a standalone prequel episode for its comedy series Adults, giving viewers a new look at the character Paul Baker. The episode, titled “Marathon Day,” centers on Paul’s origin story and is designed to stand on its own from the show’s regular storyline, FX announced in connection with audience access during the Tribeca Film Festival period.

The announcement highlighted that Tribeca Film Festival attendees were able to screen the prequel episode as part of a special presentation, according to Deadline’s report. The screening was described as a secret or surprise reveal at the festival, with the prequel not previously publicized as a separate installment.

Adults follows a comedic ensemble and, with “Marathon Day,” FX is turning to a key character arc that has been recognizable to regular viewers while framing it as a self-contained introduction. In the “Marathon Day” prequel, Paul Baker is played by Jack Innanen, who reprises the role in the standalone episode.

Deadline reported that “Marathon Day” will be available to screen on FXX and Hulu, with the prequel episode set to premiere on July 31. FX’s plan places the episode across its cable network and streaming platform, consistent with how Adults is distributed, though FX did not, in the Deadline report, describe whether the prequel will be listed under the main episode numbering or separately in episode guides.

The news comes at a time when streaming platforms and cable networks increasingly use festival circuits to support audience engagement and late-season promotional activity. In this case, the prequel episode offered festival-goers an additional viewing opportunity beyond standard screening schedules, and it provided a new way for non-regular viewers to encounter the series through a character-focused entry point.

FX did not provide, in the Deadline report, additional details on the plot beyond the focus on Paul Baker’s origin story, nor did it specify whether the prequel includes additional cast surprises or new creative credits. The report also did not indicate whether the episode will have a separate runtime, rating, or content advisories compared with the series’ regular episodes.

For viewers, the practical impact is a clear release date and a defined distribution path. For the festival audience, it also marks an unusual behind-the-scenes access moment, with attendees receiving an advance look at a standalone episode that will later reach broader audiences through FXX and Hulu.