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.
TV Cast Changes Animal Kingdom
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.
TV Cast Changes Another Life
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.
TV Cast Changes Another Life
ANOTHER LIFE
Dillon Casey (Nikita) will recur during Season 2 of the Netflix space drama as Seth Gage, the head of Homeland Security.
TV Cast Changes Bachelor
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.
TV Cast Changes Batwoman
BATWOMAN
Ruby Rose will not be returning for Season 2 of the CW series as Kate Kane aka Batwoman. (READ TONS MORE)
TV Cast Changes Batwoman
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)
TV Cast Changes Big Mouth
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)
TV Cast Changes Blacklist
THE BLACKLIST
Laura Sohn has been promoted to series regular for Season 8 of the NBC drama, as FBI Agent Alina Park. (READ MORE)
TV Cast Changes Blood Treasure
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.
TV Cast Changes Chicago Fire
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)
TV Cast Changes Dancing With Stars
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)
TV Cast Changes Elite
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."
TV Cast Changes Family Guy
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)
TV Cast Changes Flash
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)
TV Cast Changes Flash
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)
TV Cast Changes Flash
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)
TV Cast Changes Goliath
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.
TV Cast Changes Good Doctor
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)
TV Cast Changes Good Doctor
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)
TV Cast Changes Good Fight
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)
TV Cast Changes Good Fight
THE GOOD FIGHT
Original cast member Delroy Lindo, who plays Adrian Boseman, is not returning as a series regular for Season 5. (READ MORE)
TV Cast Changes Good Trouble
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)
TV Cast Changes High School Musical
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.
TV Cast Changes High School Musical
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)
TV Cast Changes His Dark Materials
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.
TV Cast Changes Legends of Tomorrow
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)
legends-of-tomorrow-exits-charlie
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)
TV Cast Changes MacGyver
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)
TV Cast Changes Mandalorian
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.
TV Cast Changes NCIS
NCIS
Maria Bello will be ending her run as Jack Sloane during Season 18 of the well-watched CBS drama. (READ MORE)
TV Cast Changes NCIS New Orleans
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.
TV Cast Changes Pennyworth
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.
TV Cast Changes Riverdale
RIVERDALE
Both Skeet Ulrich (who plays F.P.) and Marisol Nichols (Hermione) are set to exit early in Season 5 of the CW series.
TV Cast Changes Society
THE SOCIETY
The Netflix drama has promoted Olivia Nikkanen, who plays Gwen, to series regular for Season 2.
TV Cast Changes Stranger Things
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.
TV Cast Changes Superstore
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)
TV Cast Changes This Is Us
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.
TV Cast Changes Van Helsing
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.
TV Cast Changes Virgin River
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.
TV Cast Changes The Voice
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.
TV Cast Changes Walking Dead
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.
TV Cast Changes Witcher
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.
TV Cast Changes Legends of Tomorrow
DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW
Olivia Swann, who plays Astra, is confirmed to return as a series regular for Season 6. (READ MORE)
TV Cast Changes Greys Anatomy
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.
TV Cast Changes Grey's Anatomy
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.
TV Cast Changes All Rise
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)
TV Cast Changes Dancing With Stars
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....
TV Cast Changes Station 19
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.
TV Cast Changes Mandalorian
TV Cast Changes Pennyworth
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.
TV Cast Changes The Real
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.
supernatural-comic-con-2019
THE BOYS
Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) will play Solider Boy aka "the original superhero" during Season 3 of the Amazon Prime hit. (READ MORE)
garcelle-beauvais-the-real
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).
911-john-harlan-kim-3x11
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.
katherine-renee-turner
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
CHICAGO FIRE
Daniel Kyri has been promoted to series regular for Season 9, as Ritter. (READ MORE)
Gina Torres 911 Lone Star
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)
Pop Pop and a Puma
MOM
Anna Faris will not be back for Season 8 of the popular CBS sitcom, where she stars as Christy. (READ MORE)
TV Cast Changes Batwoman
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)
TV Cast Changes Legends of Tomorrow
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)
TV Cast Changes American Housewife
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)
TV Cast Changes NCIS: Los Angeles
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)
TV Cast Changes The Goldbergs
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)
TV Cast Changes Saturday Night Live
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)
Adriyan Rae Chicago Fire
CHICAGO FIRE
Adriyan Rae (Vagrant Queen) has joined Season 9 as a series regular, playing paramedic Gianna Mackey. (READ MORE)
liv-tyler-leaving-911-lone-star-fox
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)
nicole-ari-parker-universal
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)
holly-taylor-by-leslie-hassler
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)
TV Cast Changes Harvey Guillen
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.
McKenna Grace
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)
Jim Carrey
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Former cast member Jim Carrey will recur during Season 46 as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. (
)
SARA GILBERT, JAY R. FERGUSON
THE CONNERS
Jay R. Ferguson (Mad Men) has been promoted to series regular for Season 3, as Ben. (READ MORE)
Tehmina-Sunny-by-Kevin-Scanlon
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.
Leah-Gibson-via-IMDb
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
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.
jason-isaacs-awake-nbc
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.
alan-arkin-kominsky-method
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-cast-series-regular-season-3
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS
Floriana Lima (Supergirl) has been promoted to series regular for Season 3, as Darcy. (READ MORE)
CA: Premiere Of FX's "Better Things" Season 2 - Arrivals
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS
Chris Geere (You're the Worst) will recur during Season 3 as Maggie's roommate in London. (READ MORE)
west-wing-edelstein-lowe
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-imdb
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.
Erinn-Westbrook-imdb
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.
The Assassination of Dwayne Pride
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
ALL AMERICAN
Chelsea Tavares, who has recurred as Coop's GF Patience, has been promoted to series regular for Season 3.
Chapter Fifty-Six: The Dark Secret of Harvest House
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.
There's Always a Loophole
LEGACIES
Ben Levin (photo, far left), who plays alpha werewolf Jed, has been promoted to series regular for Season 3.
507 - The Limitless Shit
BILLIONS
Corey Stoll has been promoted to series regular ahead of Season 6, as business titan and social impact pioneer Mike Prince.
Terms of Service
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)
brendan-hines-by-Valentina-Socci
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-walton-goggins-natalie-zea
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-season-2-cast-samantha-ware-shalim-ortiz
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: Special Victims Unit - Season 21
LAW & ORDER: SVU
Demore Barnes has been promoted to series regular for Season 22, as deputy chief Christian Garland.
the-morning-show-season-2
THE MORNING SHOW
Steve Carell is confirmed to return for Season 2, in the Emmy-nominated role of disgraced co-anchor Mitch Kessler.
noah-galvin-real-oneals
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.
jay-ali-imdb
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.