The show has seemed eerily prescient in terms of hacking and our own political terrain.

Our show takes place a little bit in the past, but it could not be more relevant when you look at everything that’s occurring in our political climate right now and this feeling that we’re re-entering a period of American isolationism. And here is Elliot, who once was the most isolated human being you could ever meet, now taking a leap of courage and saying, “I want to be part of this world and change this world for the better.”

I’m finding, as a man, the same feeling — that I don’t need to hole myself up in a bedroom or a closet and remove myself from the world. You don’t get too many chances at enjoying your life, so why not step out into the world and be exactly who you want to be? Isolationism personally and politically only serves to compound our sense of loneliness. It seems like the last place you would want to seek refuge, and yet we continually find ourselves back in that same cocoon. I’m done with that, and I feel like Elliot pretty much feels the same way.

As an actor, you’ve taken your own leap of courage by playing Freddie Mercury. How did that happen?

My producers were fans of “Mr. Robot,” believe it or not. I sent in a video, and little did I know that Brian May [Queen’s lead guitarist] would be watching it a few days later. After that, when I realized this was happening, I actually had a version of Mr. Mercury’s teeth made by the makeup designer while I was shooting “Papillon.” So I was running back and forth, putting together prerecordings at Abbey Road in London and playing Elliot at the same time. It has been a feat that I think I’ll be very proud of, as exhausting as it is. It’s exhilarating playing such charismatic characters. I know Elliot does not come across as charismatic, but to me he is.

What’s the key to capturing that Mercury charisma?

One word: Mischief.