The debut season of The Old Man, FX's gripping crime-western series based on the Thomas Perry novel of the same name, won over fans and critics alike. It hit the small screen last summer as the most-watched cable television premiere since 2021 and racked up a seriously impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics.
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Jeff Bridges was riveting as Dan Chase, a retired CIA operative who's dragged away from his quiet life off the grid when an assassin shows up at his rural Vermont home. And perhaps the only performances to outshine him come from Dan's beloved rottweilers, Dave and Carol (don't you just love it when dogs have people names!?)
After all that success, a second season was inevitable. But who will be returning for more action? (Not Agent Waters - that's for sure!)
An official cast list hasn't been set, but it has been confirmed that Harold Harper (John Lithgow), Angela Adams (Alia Shawkat), and Zoe McDonald (Amy Brenneman) will all appear in season two. Everyone else on this list is who we can expect to appear.
Jeff Bridges as Dan Chase
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The titular "old man" is Dan Chase, a former CIA operative who has absconded to a quiet life in the country after an illustrious career. However, his peaceful retirement is abruptly shattered when an assassin shows up at his doorstep, threatening to expose secrets from his CIA days. Forced to confront his past, Dan explores the seedy underbelly of the intelligence community to uncover the truth behind the threat. And as he delves deeper, he discovers a web of conspiracy, deceit, and betrayal that extends far beyond his own life.
Chase is played by Jeff Bridges, an acclaimed actor, singer, and producer who has made a massive impact on every corner of the film industry with a diverse array of roles, from playing the chilled-out The Dude in cult favorite The Big Lebowski (1998) to the trigger-happy lawman Rooster Cogburn in True Grit (2010) to the boozy washed-up country singer Otis "Bad" Blake in Crazy Heart (2009) which won him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
John Lithgow as Harold Harper
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Deputy Director Harold Harper is equal parts compassionate and ruthless. After suffering a personal tragedy, Harper is called back to service to apprehend Chase, with whom he shares a deep and complicated history - an intertwined past that makes him the perfect man for the job.
Assuming the role of Harper is John Lithgow, who made a name for himself as a Tony Award-winning theater actor before making his way to film in the 1980s. He was nominated for Oscars in back-to-back years for The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment and has appeared in over 45 films. He's also won six Emmy Awards for his work in television, including his chilling 12-episode arc on Showtime's Dexter, his role as Winston Churchill in The Crown, and his role as a goofy extraterrestrial leader in NBC comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun.
Alia Shawkat as Angela Adams
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Angela Adams is a promising young talent at the FBI and the protégé to Harper. As she joins Harper in his pursuit of the fugitive Chase, Adams finds herself thrust into a treacherous realm where concealed truths and ulterior motives lurk beneath the surface, and her loyalty to Harper is pushed to the limit.
The role of Angela Adams is taken on by Alia Shawkat, who is well known for her role as Maeby Funke on FOX's Emmy Award-winning cult comedy series Arrested Development. She has since become an indie darling, appearing in a slew of renowned short films that dominated the independent film circuit. She's also garnered heaps of critical praise for her lead role as Dory in Max's genre-bending mystery comedy Search Party.
Amy Brenneman as Zoe McDonald
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While still reeling from a tumultuous divorce, Zoe McDonald rents a room to Chase, unaware he's a fugitive on the lam. But when the truth comes to light, she finds a resilience she never knew she possessed. Show Creator Jonathan E. Steinberg has confirmed that not only will Zoe be back for season two, she'll be integral to the story. "Zoe will definitely be back. She's a key piece of this story, a key connection for Dan," Steinberg says. "And Amy is such a brilliant actress and partner in this. We're very excited about Zoe's story going forward."
McDonald is played by accomplished actress and director Amy Brenneman, who earned two Emmy nominations for a recurring role on NYPD Blue. She co-created and starred in the hit drama Judging Amy and can be seen in Apple TV+'s Shining Girls with Elisabeth Moss.
Gbenga Akinnagbe as Julian Carson
Byron Cohen/FX
Julian Carson is a special ops contractor hired to bring in the elusive Chase - with whom he shares some striking similarities. But as Julian embarks on the high-stakes pursuit, the lines between hunter and hunted become increasingly blurred.
Carson is played by Gbenga Akinnagbe, whose extensive film credits include the role of Wallace in The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), Langston in Knucklehead (2015), Mook in Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2021-2023), and Ron Samuel Jenkins in the Starz series Power Book II: Ghost (2023).
Freya and Cain as Dave and Carol
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Perhaps Dan's greatest weapons against the operatives on his tail are his loyal rottweilers, Dave and Carol. These good dogs are always at Dan's side and are peaceful until their master is in danger - they brutally killed an attacking operative in the series premiere.
Most shows these days opt for CGI versions of the animals onscreen, but Dave and Carol are played by very real dogs named Freya and Cain, respectively. The exceptionally well-trained pups absolutely chewed through the scenery in season one and will continue to steal the spotlight in season two.
When Will We See The Old Man Season 2?
The cast of heavy hitters is poised to deliver more stellar performances when the bone-crunching Western returns for its sophomore season. But due to the writer's strike, filming has been placed on hold, and a premiere date has not been set. You can stream season one on Hulu.
