Jeff Bridges, an Academy Award winner, showcased his undeniable talent in FX's thrilling series, The Old Man. The highly acclaimed first season left viewers wanting more, especially with its open-ended finale. As the show returns for its second season, Bridges will reprise his role as the ex-CIA operative, Dan Chase, who is forced out of retirement due to the reappearance of an old enemy. Joining Bridges is the talented John Lithgow, who portrays FBI Assistant Director Harold Harper, a former military colleague of Dan's during the Soviet-Afghanistan War. The captivating performances by Bridges and Lithgow, paired with the gripping writing of Jonathan E Steinberg and Robert Levine, made The Old Man a major success and one of FX's top original series. The show received rave reviews from both audiences and critics, and even earned nominations for Bridges and Lithgow at prestigious award shows such as the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards. With all the accolades and positive reception, it is no surprise that fans can eagerly anticipate the arrival of The Old Man season 2.
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The Old Man Season 2: Latest News
Filming for The Old Man season 2 has been delayed due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. This was not unexpected news, as the strike has already affected many other movies and shows. Despite having completed five scripts prior to the strike, production had to be stopped as the fifth episode required rewrites. Initially, the plan was to film all five scripts, but the decision was made to halt production after episode 4.
Furthermore, production on The Old Man season 2 in Los Angeles had previously been delayed due to picketing at the shooting locations. This resulted in star Jeff Bridges, in solidarity with the writers, crossing the picket line. Unfortunately, Hollywood is seeing a rise in the number of shows having to stop production due to the strike. As there appears to be no end in sight for the strike, it remains uncertain when The Old Man season 2, along with other productions, will resume filming.
The Old Man Season 2 Confirmed
The Old Man Season 2 Release Date Info
The Old Man debuted its first two episodes on June 16, 2022. Following the airing of the third episode on June 27, FX promptly announced the renewal of the show for a second season. This decision is hardly surprising, considering the unresolved enigmas that left The Old Man aficionados intrigued after the conclusion of season 1. Additionally, from a commercial standpoint, this choice is justified as The Old Man surpassed all other primetime scripted series premieres on television since 2020 in terms of viewership. Furthermore, Jeff Bridges' return to the Western thriller genre contributed to making it the most-watched FX series to premiere on Hulu during its opening weekend. Both Hulu and FX can undoubtedly anticipate replicating similar success with The Old Man's second season.
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and then contracting COVID in 2021, Jeff Bridges' real-life health issues caused some production delays for The Old Man, despite the series being announced in 2019. However, with the actor's cancer now in remission, it is expected that the release of the next season will not be as prolonged. The first season, which premiered in June 2022, was highly anticipated. Unfortunately, The Old Man season 2 has encountered its own setbacks, as production was halted in July 2023 due to a writer's strike and the unavailability of completed scripts to film. The release date for the second season is entirely dependent on the duration of the strike.
The Old Man Season 2 Cast
While no major cast additions have been announced, the majority of the stars from the first season will be returning for season 2 of The Old Man. Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow will definitely be back, as indicated by the season finale's ending shot where the former partners reunite in a car. Alia Shawkat's portrayal of Angela Adams in The Old Man has been one of her best roles, and she will continue to portray the character as viewers will discover the aftermath of her kidnapping. Unfortunately, E.J. Bonilla's character, Agent Raymond Waters, will not be returning due to his death in the first season. However, the other characters will enjoy a better fate.
Amy Brenneman's character, Zoe McDonald, is a prime example. As someone who unintentionally becomes Dan's partner on the run, there is plenty of room for further character development. In an interview with Deadline, The Old Man executive producer Dan Shotz confirmed that Amy will be returning in the next season. He praised her as a brilliant actress and a valuable partner in the show. Furthermore, there is good news for fans of Dan's iconic Rottweilers, who are just as important as any other character in The Old Man. Shotz reassured viewers that the dogs will continue to play a significant role, stating, "I don't know if The Old Man is a show without the dogs."
The Old Man Season 2 Story Details
With the revelation of Angela's father as the Afghan warlord Hamzad in the penultimate episode of The Old Man season 1, it is inevitable that Navid Negahban will make a comeback to reprise his role. Pej Vahdat, who portrayed the younger version of Hamzad in the flashback sequences, may also make an appearance, as the show hints at the possibility of exploring more of Dan and Harold's time in Afghanistan. This opens the door for Bill Heck and Christopher Redman to return, who played the younger versions of Bridges and Lithgow's characters, respectively. Considering that Heck was widely recognized for his perfect casting as a younger version of a character on TV, it's likely that the actor will be given more emotionally charged flashback arcs to unravel.With the return of both Dan and Harold, Season 2 of The Old Man will undoubtedly raise the stakes, forcing the seasoned veterans to tap into their fighting skills once again. One of the main objectives in the season's premiere will be to rescue Alia Shawkat's character, Angela, who is still held captive. Angela remains unaware that Hamzad is her father, so her discovery of this truth will be a significant turning point for her character. Additionally, there will be a number of revelations surrounding Zoe. Dan Sholtz has expressed a desire to delve deeper into Zoe's background, suggesting that her presence in his life may be more than mere coincidence.
Flashbacks may be used in season 2 of The Old Man to provide additional context for the major plot twists. However, it is possible that the intensity of these flashbacks will be reduced. Instead, Dan and Harold may reveal more about their time together in Afghanistan through dialogue rather than relying solely on flashbacks. Executive producer Jon Steinberg shared that season 2 will take the characters back to the place where they spent a significant amount of time when they were younger, allowing them to reflect on the past from their current perspectives.
It is worth noting that The Old Man is based on Thomas Perry's 2017 novel of the same name. While season 1 maintained the foundation of a man-on-the-run storyline, it diverged from the novel by introducing new narrative elements. In the novel, the protagonist is pursued by a merciless warlord and the American government after stealing $20 million from the warlord. However, the TV show replaces the money-focused storyline with a more humanistic aspect: Dan's romantic involvement with Hamzad's wife, who becomes a significant character. Additionally, the connection between Hamzad and Angela, present in the novel, is not explored in the show. This divergence from the source material allows the showrunners to develop new storylines while still incorporating elements from the novel in season 2 of The Old Man.