Jeff Bridges and his Rottweilers return for a second season of the successful FX series, “The Old Man.” What’s new in this The Old Man Season 2?
Jeff Bridges, an Academy Award winner, continues his role in FX’s series “The Old Man” for its second season. Season 1 received acclaim and had an open-ended finale, making a follow-up expected. The series, also featuring John Lithgow, follows Bridges’ character, ex-CIA operative Dan Chase, who comes out of retirement to face an old adversary.
The story involves a cat-and-mouse game with other characters, including Lithgow’s FBI Assistant Director Harold Harper, who was Dan’s military colleague during the Soviet-Afghanistan War.
The debut season of “The Old Man” played with familiar CIA thriller themes, but Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow’s performances, along with compelling writing by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, made it one of FX’s top original series. Audiences and critics gave it positive reviews.
The show also received award nominations, including Best Actor in a Drama for Bridges and Best Supporting Actor for Lithgow at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards. It’s no wonder that “The Old Man” season 2 is on the way.
Latest News
The news about The Old Man season 2 is disappointing but not surprising. The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike has caused delays in filming, impacting several movies and shows.
The production of The Old Man season 2 had started with five completed scripts, but the strike halted the writing process. They initially planned to film all five scripts, but they decided to pause production after completing episode 4 due to the need for rewrites in the fifth episode.
Production of The Old Man season 2 in Los Angeles faced earlier delays because of picketing at the shooting locations. Jeff Bridges, the star of the show, even joined the striking writers by crossing the picket line.
Hollywood is seeing more shows pausing production due to the ongoing strike, and it’s uncertain when The Old Man season 2 and other productions will resume, as the strike shows no signs of ending soon.
The Old Man Season 2 Confirmed
“The Old Man” first aired its initial two episodes on June 16, 2022. Shortly after the third episode, on June 27, FX confirmed the show’s renewal for a second season. This decision was expected due to fans’ burning questions after the season 1 finale.
It was also a smart commercial choice, as “The Old Man” became the most-watched primetime scripted series to debut on television since 2020. Jeff Bridges’ return to the Western thriller genre also made it the most-watched FX series premiere on Hulu during its opening weekend. Both Hulu and FX will likely anticipate similar viewership records for “The Old Man” season 2.
Release Date Info
Jeff Bridges faced cancer in 2020 and contracted COVID in 2021, leading to production delays for “The Old Man.” These delays were mainly due to his health issues. However, with his cancer in remission, the release of the next season is expected to be quicker.
The first season was highly anticipated, premiering in June 2022. “The Old Man” season 2 has now encountered its own delays, as production stopped in July 2023 due to the ongoing writer’s strike and the lack of completed scripts to film. The release date for season 2 is uncertain and depends on the duration of the strike.
The Old Man Season 2 Cast
Most of the original cast members will be returning for “The Old Man” season 2. Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow will reprise their roles, as indicated by the season finale. Alia Shawkat will continue playing Angela Adams, one of her standout roles.
However, E.J. Bonilla’s Agent Raymond Waters won’t return due to his character’s death in the first season. Other characters from the show will have more to explore in the upcoming season.
Amy Brenneman’s character, Zoe McDonald, will see further character development in “The Old Man” season 2. According to executive producer Dan Shotz, Amy Brenneman will be returning, and he praised her acting skills.
Additionally, the iconic Rottweilers, essential characters in the show, will continue to play a significant role, with Shotz emphasizing that the show wouldn’t be the same without them.
With Angela’s father revealed as the Afghan warlord Hamzad in the penultimate episode of “The Old Man” season 1, it’s highly likely that Navid Negahban will return for season 2. Pej Vahdat, who portrayed the younger version of Hamzad in flashback sequences, may also make an appearance, allowing the show to explore more of Dan and Harold’s time in Afghanistan.
This opens the door for Bill Heck and Christopher Redman, who played the younger versions of Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow’s characters, to return as well. Bill Heck’s exceptional casting could lead to more emotional flashback arcs in the upcoming season.
Conclusion
“The Old Man” season 2 is highly anticipated, but it has faced production delays due to the writer’s strike. Many of the original cast members are returning, and fans can expect to see the story continue with intriguing character developments and the beloved Rottweilers playing a significant role.
The series’ success in its first season and the unresolved questions from the finale make it a much-anticipated follow-up, although the release date remains uncertain due to the ongoing strike.
