Morning Wars (or, The Morning Show as it is called in the US) has been given the green light for a third season at Apple TV+ which means we can look forward to more of the dynamic duo that is Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.
“It has been thrilling to watch The Morning Show go from strength to strength over the past two seasons, exploring topical storylines that have resonated with audiences around the world while also being incredibly addictive and entertaining,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+.
When the acclaimed series does return, it will do so with a new showrunner at the helm, marking the third changing of the guards for the prestige drama. Charlotte Stoudt, who has previously worked on shows such as Homeland and House of Cards will be filling the position previously held by Kerry Ehrin, who also developed the show. Ehrin replaced original showrunner Jay Carson as part of the show’s season one overhaul to include the #MeToo movement.
“We’re excited to see where Charlotte takes these extraordinary characters in season three and to watch the magic that Jennifer, Reese and our awe-inspiring cast continue to bring to the captivating world of morning television,” Cherniss said.
For her part, Stoudt said that she was looking forward to joining the team at Apple TV+ to continue bringing the stories of the fictional UBA broadcast network to life.
“I’m excited to be joining forces with Apple TV+ and The Morning Show,” Stoudt said in a statement Monday. “The cast, led by the phenomenal Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, are truly to die for. Kerry, Mimi and Michael, and the teams at Media Res, Hello Sunshine and Echo Films, have created an irresistible world that is equally delicious and provocative.”
If the first two seasons of the series are anything to go by, Stoudt could have some exciting challenges ahead. Both seasons of Morning Wars have had to undergo huge re-writes, first thanks to the #MeToo movement and then again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw New York — where the show is set — become the global epicentre in 2020. In each instance, storylines were pivoted so the broadcast news drama could reflect current times.
Morning Wars centres on a high-profile morning news anchor Alex (Aniston) who finds herself without a co-host, when her on-air partner of 15 years Mitch (played by Steve Carrell) is accused of multiple accounts of sexual misconduct. Meanwhile, Bradley (Witherspoon), a small-town field reporter with a knack for causing a stir, catches the eyes of the network executives who feel she could be just the thing to save their flagging ratings.
The second season picked up nine months after the first season’s finale, which saw Alex and Bradley exposing the toxicity at The Morning Show during a live broadcast and saw a returning cast that includes Steve Carell, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Bel Powley, Desean Terry, Janina Gavankar, Tom Irwin and Marcia Gay Harden.
Season one of the show earned eight Emmy nominations, with Aniston, Carell and Duplass all recognised for their performances. Crudup ended up taking home the prize for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Aniston won a Screen Actors Guild Award for female actor in a drama.
A release date for the third season has not yet been confirmed but you can catch up on the first two seasons on Apple TV+.
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