ABC's popular medical drama series, The Good Doctor, is coming back for a seventh season. However, the news regarding the upcoming season has been surrounded by delays and changes in the cast. The show centers around the journey of Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, played by Freddie Highmore. As he navigates his medical career, Shaun faces challenges in his personal and social life due to his condition. Throughout his residency at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, Shaun forms friendships with other doctors and residents who support him in his journey. Similar to other medical dramas like Grey's Anatomy and ER, The Good Doctor has seen its fair share of heart-wrenching character deaths and departures. The series has also delved into Shaun's personal life, including his marriage to Lea and the birth of their child. With season 6 ending on suspenseful cliffhangers, fans are eagerly awaiting news on what's to come in season 7.
The Latest The Good Doctor Season 7 News
The latest news surrounding The Good Doctor season 7 is bittersweet, as it seems probable that actor Hill Harper will not be reprising his role. Harper recently announced his campaign to run for the Senate in Michigan through a Twitter post in July 2023. His opponent will be Representative Elissa Slotkin as he aims to replace the retiring Senator Debbie Stabenow. With an impressive educational background from Harvard Law School and Brown University, Harper's qualifications should work in his favor. However, this means that it is unlikely that his character, Dr. Marcus Andrews, will appear in The Good Doctor season 7. Additionally, this news follows the revelation that actor Brandon Larracuente, who plays Danny on the show, will also be leaving after season 6. As one of the few remaining characters from the first season, fans are saddened by the potential absence of Dr. Andrews. The character's fate was all but sealed in the season 6 finale when he resigned as president of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital due to the board's ultimatum between his job and nurse Dalisay Villanueva. It is unclear if Harper's campaign influenced his assumed exit or vice versa.
The Good Doctor Season 7 Is Confirmed
The Good Doctor season 7 has been officially renewed, but it is likely to experience delays due to the ongoing Writers Guild Strike and the possibility of a Screen Actors Guild strike. ABC has delayed all its scripted content, including The Good Doctor season 7, pushing back its release date beyond its usual fall premiere. Currently, there is no information about the release window, as production cannot begin until the demands of the strikes are met. As a result, The Good Doctor season 7 may not air until 2024, significantly later than anticipated.
The Good Doctor Season 7 Cast
Several major character exits have been confirmed for The Good Doctor season 7. Brandon Larracuente, who played Danny, will be leaving the show as his character has wrapped up his storyline by resigning and returning to Texas for addiction recovery. Hill Harper, who portrayed Dr. Andrews, is also likely not returning for season 7 as his character also resigned due to his political aspirations.
With these departures, viewers are left wondering which cast members will remain. Freddie Highmore will continue in the main role of Dr. Shaun Murphy, while Paige Spara will reprise her role as Lea. Richard Shiff will return as Dr. Aaron Glassman, and Fiona Gubelmann will come back as Dr. Morgan Reznick. Christina Chang will reprise her role as Dr. Audrey Lim, and Will Yun Lee will portray Dr. Alex Park once again. Noah Galvin, Bria Henderson, and Chuku Mody will join the cast as Dr. Asher Wolke, Dr. Jordan Allen, and Dr. Jared Kalu respectively in The Good Doctor season 7.
The Good Doctor Season 7 Story Details
Due to the WAG strike, there is currently no news about the plot for season 7 of The Good Doctor. However, season 6 left us with some unresolved cliffhangers that need to be addressed early on in the upcoming season. We can expect to see Lea and Shaun navigating the world of parenthood as they bring their newborn home. Meanwhile, Shaun will undoubtedly question Glassman's absence during the birth. San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital will also have to deal with the aftermath of two significant losses: Dr. Perez, who left to seek help for opioid addiction, and Dr. Andrews, who chose love over his position as board president.
It remains unknown if new cast members will be introduced to replace Dr. Perez as a resident, and the board's decision for the new president is also uncertain following Dr. Andrews' departure. It seems that the main storylines for season 7 will revolve around Shaun's transition into fatherhood and how the new president will impact San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. These events will greatly shake up Shaun's life, as he tends to struggle with change and transition. Overall, The Good Doctor season 7 promises to be a highly dramatic and compelling season.