TV's Big Cast Changes (2020-2021)

With an eye on the 2020-21 TV season, TVLine here lists the new series regulars, recurring players and noteworthy guest stars on returning favorites for the fall and beyond. Plus, get some (sad!) refreshers on who has gone bye-bye since last we checked in.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Rigo Sanchez has been promoted to series regular for Season 5 of the TNT drama, as Manny, the leader of a group of career criminals.

ANOTHER LIFE

Tongayi Chirisa (iZombie) has been added as a series regular for Season 2 of the Netflix space drama, as Richard Ncube, a decorated veteran of many Earth campaigns.

ANOTHER LIFE

Dillon Casey (Nikita) will recur during Season 2 of the Netflix space drama as Seth Gage, the head of Homeland Security.

THE BACHELOR

Matt James — a potential suitor in Clare Crawley's delayed but forthcoming season of The Bachelorette — will be the first Black Bachelor in the series' 18-year history.

BATWOMAN

Ruby Rose will not be returning for Season 2 of the CW series as Kate Kane aka Batwoman. (READ TONS MORE)

BATWOMAN

Javicia Leslie (God Friended Me) is set to inherit the title character's cape and cowl as Ryan Wilder, a "likable, messy" and "untamed" young woman who is also a "highly skilled and wildly undisciplined" fighter. (READ MORE)

BIG MOUTH

Jenny Slate will no longer voice Missy Foreman-Greenwald when Season 4 of the animated Netflix series rolls around, amid ongoing conversations about Black representation in Hollywood. (READ MORE)

THE BLACKLIST

Laura Sohn has been promoted to series regular for Season 8 of the NBC drama, as FBI Agent Alina Park. (READ MORE)

BLOOD & TREASURE

Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) will recur during Season 2 of the CBS adventure series as Sister Lisa, a resourceful nun in Rome who possesses a sly sense of humor. 

CHICAGO FIRE 

Annie Ilonzeh will not return as a series regular for Season 9 of the NBC drama, where she played Brett's ambulance partner Emily Foster. (READ MORE)

DANCING WITH THE STARS

Tyra Banks (America's Next Top Model) has been tapped to host Season 29 of the ABC dance competition, where she will also carry an executive producer title. (READ MORE)

ELITE

Andrés Velencoso, Manu Rios, Carla Díaz, Martina Cariddi, Pol Granch and Diego Martín have joined Season 4 of the Netflix coming-of-age drama as characters who will "cross paths with Guzmán, Samuel, Ander, Omar, Rebeca and Cayetana."

FAMILY GUY

After two decades, Mike Henry is stepping down as the voice of Cleveland Brown, saying "persons of color should play characters of color." Arif Zahir will take over the role. (READ MORE)

THE FLASH

Hartley Sawyer will not be returning as Ralph Dibny for Season 7, due to a series of misogynistic, racist and homophobic tweets the actor made years ago. (READ MORE)

THE FLASH

Kayla Compton has been promoted to series regular for Season 7 of the CW's No. 1 show, as the Citizen's Allegra Garcia. (READ MORE)

THE FLASH

Brandon McKnight has been promoted to series regular for Season 7 of the CW's No. 1 show, as tech whiz Chester P. Runk. (READ MORE)

GOLIATH

J.K. Simmons (Counterpart, pictured) and Bruce Dern (Big Love) have joined Season 4 as series regulars, respectively playing George Zax, the head of a family-operated pharmaceutical company, and George's brother Frank, a scientific genius and ostracized black sheep of the Zax family.

THE GOOD DOCTOR

Original cast member Nicholas Gonzalez will not be returning as Dr. Melendez for Season 4 of the ABC drama, due to the events of the Season 3 finale. (READ EXIT INTERVIEW)

THE GOOD DOCTOR

Jasika Nicole will not be returning as a series regular for Season 4 of the ABC drama, where she played Dr. Carly Lever. (READ MORE)

THE GOOD FIGHT

Original cast member Cush Jumbo, who plays Luca Quinn, is not returning for Season 5 of the acclaimed CBS All Access drama. (READ MORE)

THE GOOD FIGHT

Original cast member Delroy Lindo, who plays Adrian Boseman, is not returning as a series regular for Season 5. (READ MORE)

GOOD TROUBLE

Beau Mirchoff, who plays Callie's (ex?) boyfriend Jamie Hunter, has been promoted to series regular for Season 3 of the Freeform drama (which has been postponed to 2021). (READ MORE)

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES

Derek Hough (World of Dance) will recur during Season 2 of the Disney+ series as Zack, Miss Jenn's (Kate Reinders) charming but sneaky ex-boyfriend who returns to Salt Lake to teach drama at East High's biggest rival, North High.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES

Roman Banks (Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen) and Olivia Rose Keegan (Days of Our Lives) will recur during Season 2 of the Disney+ series as Howie, a "hyper-smart, adorkable high school junior" who works at Big Red's family's pizza shop, and Lily, "an energetic East High freshman whose sweetness masks her insecurity and highly competitive nature." (READ MORE)

HIS DARK MATERIALS

Superman's Terence Stamp will portray Giacomo Paradisi during Season 2 of the HBO series.

In addition, Jade Anouka (Turn Up Charlie) has been cast as witch queen Ruta Skadi, who helps Serafina Pekkala fight the Magisterium, and Simone Kirby (Peaky Blinders) will play Dr. Mary Malone, head of the Dark Matter Research Team at (an) Oxford University.  

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

Shayan Sobhian has been promoted to series regular for Season 6 of the zany Arrowverse drama, as Zari's younger brother Behrad. (READ MORE)

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

Maisie Richardson-Sellers, who has most recently played Charlie, will not return as a series regular for Season 6. (READ MORE)

MACGYVER

Hawaii Five-0 vet Jorge Garcia will reunite with fellow Lost alum Henry Ian Cusick when he guest-stars during Season 4 of the CBS drama. (READ MORE)

THE MANDALORIAN

Justified gunslinger Timothy Olyphant (pictured) will play an undisclosed role during Season 2 of the Disney+ hit, while The Terminator's Michael Biehn will play a bounty hunter and Attack of the Clones alum Temuera Morrison will reportedly appear as the iconic Boba Fett.

NCIS

Maria Bello will be ending her run as Jack Sloane during Season 18 of the well-watched CBS drama. (READ MORE)

NCIS: NEW ORLEANS

Series newcomer Charles Michael Davis will continue as a series regular for Season 7 of the CBS drama, where he plays Special Agent Quentin Carter.

PENNYWORTH

James Purefoy (Rome, Hap and Leonard) has joined the EPIX drama's Season 2 cast in the role of Captain Gulliver Troy, Alfie's former SAS Captain. Additionally, Edward Hogg (Harlots) has been cast as Colonel Salt, a would-be despot/calculating killer, while Jessye Romeo (Sky One's Curfew) will play Katie Browning, an defiant and wonderfully naive art student.

RIVERDALE

Both Skeet Ulrich (who plays F.P.) and Marisol Nichols (Hermione) are set to exit early in Season 5 of the CW series.

THE SOCIETY

The Netflix drama has promoted Olivia Nikkanen, who plays Gwen, to series regular for Season 2.

STRANGER THINGS

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. favorite Joel Stoffer will have an undisclosed role in Season 4 of the Netflix hit, which he has not yet filmed due to the pandemic shutdown. 

SUPERSTORE

Series star America Ferrera will wrap her run as Amy very early in Season 6, because the Season 5 finale that was intended to be her swan song got postponed by the pandemic shutdown. (READ MORE)

THIS IS US

Madison's obstetrician Dr. Mason, played by Josh Hamilton (Ray Donovan, 13 Reasons Why), "becomes an important character" in Season 5 of the NBC hit.

VAN HELSING

Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy, Bad Blood) has joined the Syfy drama's fifth and final season as Count Dalibor, a husband of Tricia Helfer's Dracula nee Olivia.

Additionally, Ali Liebert (Bomb Girls) has been cast as Nina, a vampire with a colorful past that involves Julius, while Steve Bacic (Virgin River) will play a wild vampire who wears animal skins and has been hiding with a child in an abandoned mine.

VIRGIN RIVER

Ben Hollingsworth (second from left), who plays Dan Brady on the Netflix romantic drama, has been promoted to series regular for Season 2.

THE VOICE

Former coach Gwen Stefani is set to fill in for Nick Jonas during Season 19, where she will be joined by returning coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Blake Shelton.

THE WALKING DEAD

Margot Bingham has been tapped by the AMC drama to play an officially undisclosed Season 11 role — though the actress was heard (but never seen) during Season 10 as Stephanie, a stranger on whom Eugene developed a crush after they connected over the radio.

THE WITCHER

Norwegian actor Kristofer Hivju, who played Game of Thrones' Tormund Giantsbane, has been cast as Nivellen for Season 2 of the Netflix series. 

The other new characters cast include Yasen Atour (Young Wallender) as Coën, a witcher from Poviss; Agnes Bjorn as Vereena, a powerful bruxa; Paul Bullion (Peaky Blinders) as the witcher Lambert; Thue Ersted Rasmussen (Denmark's Sygeplejeskolen) as Eskel, Geralt's friend from his youth; Aisha Fabienne Ross as Lydia, a sorceress; and Mecia Simson (Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model) as the preternaturally beautiful elf Francesca.

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

Olivia Swann, who plays Astra, is confirmed to return as a series regular for Season 6. (READ MORE)

GREY'S ANATOMY

Anthony Hill, who plays Dr. Winston Ndugu, an old colleague of Maggie's, has been promoted to a series regular for Season 17.

GREY'S ANATOMY

Richard Flood, who plays Dr. Cormac Hayes, a potential love interest for Ellen Pompeo's titular MD, has been promoted to a series regular for Season 17.

ALL RISE

Lindsey Gort has been promoted to series regular for Season 2 of the CBS drama, as private defense attorney Amy Quinn. (READ MORE)

DANCING WITH THE STARS

Neither OG host Tom Bergeron nor Erin Andrews will be returning to the ABC dance competition for Season 29. (READ MORE) Instead....

STATION 19

Grey's Anatomy cast member Stefania Spampinato (above left) is officially making the jump to sister show Station 19, where as Dr. Carina DeLuca she will be a series regular in Season 4.

THE MANDALORIAN

Rosario Dawson (pictured) will reportedly play Clone Wars fan favorite Ahsoka Tano in Season 2 of the Disney+ hit (READ MORE), while Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff will play Bo-Katan Kryze (READ MORE).

PENNYWORTH

Harriet Slater (pictured) and Ramon Tikaram have been promoted to series regulars for Season 2, as singer/budding starlet Sandra Onslow and Detective Inspector Aziz.

THE REAL

Neither Tamera Mowry-Housley (far right) nor Amanda Seales (second from left) will be returning as co-hosts for the coming season of the syndicated daytime talk show.

THE BOYS 

Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) will play Solider Boy aka "the original superhero" during Season 3 of the Amazon Prime hit. (READ MORE)

THE REAL

Garcelle Beauvais is joining the panel for Season 7 (premiering Sept. 21), alongside cohosts Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Adrienne Houghton (neé Bailon). 

9-1-1

John Harlan Kim (The Librarians) has been promoted to series regular for Season 4, as Chimney's younger half-brother, Albert Kim.

FBI

Recent Julliard grad Katherine Renee Turner has joined the Season 3 cast as a series regular, playing Tiffany Wallace, a onetime NYPD who became a fed after working on a joint task force, Deadline reports.

CHICAGO FIRE

Daniel Kyri has been promoted to series regular for Season 9, as Ritter. (READ MORE)

9-1-1: LONE STAR

Gina Torres (Suits) is joining Season 2 as a series regular, playing Tommy Vega, a paramedic captain who was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform to raise her twin daughter — "until COVID-19 changed everything." (READ MORE)

MOM

Anna Faris will not be back for Season 8 of the popular CBS sitcom, where she stars as Christy. (READ MORE)

BATWOMAN

Shivaani Ghai (Dominion) has been tapped to join the CW drama's Season 2 cast as the oft-mentioned Safiyah, the "fiercely protective ruler of a small community on the island of Coryana." (READ MORE)

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

Lisseth Chavez (who is exiting Chicago P.D.) has nabbed the series-regular role of Esperanza "Spooner" Cruz, a "tough and self-sufficient" woman who "lives off the grid, devising ingenious tech for the detection of — and defense against — space aliens." (READ MORE) 

AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE

The ABC sitcom is recasting youngest daughter Anna-Kat, with Life in Pieces alum Giselle Eisenberg replacing Julia Butters (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) in the upcoming fifth season. (READ MORE)

NCIS: LOS ANGELES

Caleb Castille has parlayed his three-episode stint into a full-time gig: The actor has been promoted to a series regular ahead of the CBS drama's 12th season. (READ MORE) 

THE GOLDBERGS

Carrie Wampler will play Erica's college pal Loren in the ABC sitcom's upcoming Season 8 in a recast, replacing Kelli Berglund. (READ MORE)

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Upright Citizens Brigade veteran Ego Nwodim has been elevated from featured player to full-time cast member ahead of the sketch comedy series' 46th season. (READ MORE) 

CHICAGO FIRE

Adriyan Rae (Vagrant Queen) has joined Season 9 as a series regular, playing paramedic Gianna Mackey. (READ MORE)

9-1-1: LONE STAR

Liv Tyler will not be returning as a series regular for Season 2, due in part to concerns about transatlantic commuting during the pandemic. (READ MORE)

CHICAGO P.D.

Nicole Ari Parker (Empire) will recur during Season 8 of the NBC drama as Deputy Superintendent Samantha Miller, a progressive, ardent proponent of police reform. (READ MORE)

MANIFEST

Holly Taylor (The Americans) has joined the Season 3 cast as Angelina, a heretofore under-the-radar Flight 828 passenger who will prove to be "integral." (READ MORE)

ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST

Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) will recur during Season 2 of NBC's musical dramedy as George, a new programmer at Sprq Point.

THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Mckenna Grace (The Haunting of Hill House, Designated Survivor) will recur during Season 4 of the Hulu drama as the teenaged wife of a much older Commander. (READ MORE)

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Former cast member Jim Carrey will recur during Season 46 as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. (

)

THE CONNERS

Jay R. Ferguson (Mad Men) has been promoted to series regular for Season 3, as Ben. (READ MORE)

CHICAGO MED

Tehmina Sunny (Pandora) will have multi-episode arc during Season 6 as Dr. Sabeena Virani, who approaches Dr. Halstead to lead the clinical trial for a new medication.

BATWOMAN

Leah Gibson (Manifest, pictured) and Nathan Owens (Devious Maids) will recur in Season 2 as Tatiana aka "The Whisper," an assassin who harbors feelings for her boss Safiyah, and Ocean, a Zen gardener and fighter with a complicated past.

LUCIFER

Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights) will appear in Season 5B and Season 6 as Carol Corbett, a buttoned-up detective from Dan's past who joins the LAPD and quickly strikes up a connection with Ella.

SEX EDUCATION

Jason Isaacs (Star Trek: Discovery) and Jemima Kirke (Girls) will guest-star during Season 3 as Peter Groff, Headmaster Groff's cocky and more successful older brother, and Hope, a former Moordale student-turned-new headmistress. Additionally, recording artist Dua Saleh will recur as Cal, a nonbinary student who clashes with Hope's new vision.

THE KOMINSKY METHOD

Alan Arkin will not be returning for the Netflix dramedy's third and final season. (READ MORE)

A MILLION LITTLE THINGS

Floriana Lima (Supergirl) has been promoted to series regular for Season 3, as Darcy. (READ MORE)

A MILLION LITTLE THINGS

Chris Geere (You're the Worst) will recur during Season 3 as Maggie's roommate in London. (READ MORE)

9-1-1: LONE STAR

Lisa Edelstein will recur during Season 2 as Gwyneth, the ex-wife of fellow West Wing alum Rob Lowe's Capt. Owen Strand, and mother to their adult son T.K.

LEGACIES

Leo Howard, whose previous TV credits include Freakish, Kickin' It and Why Women Kill, has been promoted to series regular for Season 3, as Sheriff Mac's son Ethan.

RIVERDALE

Erinn Westbrook, whose previous TV credits include The Resident, Insatiable and Awkward, has joined Season 5 in the series regular role of Pop Tate's ambitious granddaughter, Tabitha.

NCIS: NEW ORLEANS

Chelsea Field, who has recurred for three seasons as DOJ attorney Rita Devereaux, has been promoted to series regular for Season 7 — opposite real-life husband Scott Bakula.

ALL AMERICAN

Chelsea Tavares, who has recurred as Coop's GF Patience, has been promoted to series regular for Season 3.

RIVERDALE

Drew Ray Tanner, who plays Southside Serpents gang member Fangs Fogarty on the CW drama, has been promoted to series regular for Season 5.

LEGACIES

Ben Levin (photo, far left), who plays alpha werewolf Jed, has been promoted to series regular for Season 3.

BILLIONS

Corey Stoll has been promoted to series regular ahead of Season 6, as business titan and social impact pioneer Mike Prince.

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

Adam Tsekhman has (finally!) been promoted to series regular for Season 6, as Time Bureau wonk-turned-Legend Gary Green. (READ MORE)

LOCKE & KEY

Brendan Hines — whose previous TV credits include The Tick, Scorpion and Scandal — has joined Season 2 of the Netflix series as Josh Bennett, a Matheson Academy history teacher who harbors a secret agenda.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ashmore and Hallea Jones have been promoted to series regulars, as Uncle Duncan and mean girl Eve.

THE UNICORN

Natalie Zea (Justified, The Detour) will return and recur as the mystery woman, Shannon, that Wade (Walton Goggins) met at the end of the Season 1 finale. (READ MORE)

ALL RISE

Samantha Marie Ware (Glee) will recur during Season 2 as Judge Lola Carmichael's new law clerk Vanessa "Ness" Johnson, while Shalim Ortiz (Grand Hotel) will recur as Joaquin Luna, a photographer and activist who crosses paths with public defender Emily Lopez.

LAW & ORDER: SVU

Demore Barnes has been promoted to series regular for Season 22, as deputy chief Christian Garland.

THE MORNING SHOW

Steve Carell is confirmed to return for Season 2, in the Emmy-nominated role of disgraced co-anchor Mitch Kessler.

THE GOOD DOCTOR

Noah Galvin (pictured here on The Real O'Neals), Brian "Sene" Marc (Marvel's Luke Cage), Bria Samoné Henderson (Mrs. America) and newcomer Summer Brown will recur during Season 4 as first-year residents. 

MAGNUM P.I.

Jay Ali (Daredevil, The Fosters) will recur during Season 3 as Higgins' new love interest. Dr. Ethan Shah, a handsome, confident, and charming,  surgeon at Kings Medical Hospital.