Production for Season 5 of Apple TV+'s 'The Morning Show' is currently underway in Los Angeles, with new cast members joining the ensemble. Jeff Daniels will play Lukas, a self-made billionaire and founder of a well-known investment firm, in a major recurring role. Jesse Williams, known for 'Grey's Anatomy,' will portray Vernon, UBN's new Head of News, described as 'a brash pot-stirrer with a talent for grabbing and keeping an audience.' Reneé Rapp, returning to acting after a break, will play Samantha, 'a young rising star in the UBN news division determined to make it in media on her own terms.'
Additional new faces include Jeff Wilbusch as Roman, Head of Protective Services for the UBN News Division, and Sydney Park as Leah, Cory Ellison's new assistant. Returning cast members include Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Nicole Beharie, and Jon Hamm. Greta Lee will not return for Season 5, and Aaron Pierre is also likely out, as hinted by showrunner Charlotte Stoudt.
Plot details remain scarce, but Stoudt has teased that a time jump is likely between Seasons 4 and 5, as has been the case in previous installments. The new Head of News role, previously held by William Jackson Harper's Ben, may create tension with Mia (Karen Pittman), who had long vied for the position. Stoudt told Deadline, 'Oddly enough, a door is open that wasn't open before, and Mia's now thinking, 'Well, gosh, maybe I wanted the wrong job. Maybe I wanted the big job after all.''
Season 4 concluded with Celine Dumont's (Marion Cotillard) downfall after a deepfake scandal involving Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston). Ben took over as Head of News, straining Mia and Stella's friendship before Stella (Greta Lee) left the CEO position open. Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) and Chip (Mark Duplass) investigated an environmental justice campaign, and Alex embarked on a rescue mission to retrieve Bradley from a gulag in Belarus.
