The Old Man - What We Know So Far
Since FX's "The Americans" went off the air in 2018, there have been several other espionage-themed shows to debut on television, like "Jack Ryan" and "Treadstone." But few have captured quite the same critical acclaim as "The Americans," which received 18 Emmy nominations and four wins (via Emmys.com). And one show that's hoping to change that is FX's latest foray into the spy genre, the upcoming series "The Old Man."
Based on Thomas Perry's 2017 best=selling novel of the same name, "The Old Man" is co-created by Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine, who were previously the co-creators and showrunners on all four seasons of "Black Sails." It boasts an impressive cast, headlined by none other than Jeff Bridges. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, this will be Bridges' first regular role on a TV series in more than five decades.
"Jeff Bridges is an iconic, extraordinary actor and to have him as the star of this series is an incredible moment for FX," FX Entertainment's co-president of original programming told Variety. "Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine have delivered an amazing pilot script and Jeff is perfect for the role of Dan Chase. We're also happy to be working with Warren Littlefield, with whom we've had such a terrific partnership on Fargo, along with our partners at Fox 21."
After several delays, the upcoming series will premiere on FX on Hulu in the coming year. Here's everything we know so far about "The Old Man."
What is the release date for The Old Man?
As reported by Deadline, "The Old Man" will release in the first half of 2022, and most likely will come out closer to the end of the first half of the year. FX chairman John Landgraf revealed the release window during the Television Critics' Association's summer virtual tour in Aug. 2021. At that time, three episodes remained to be filmed. FX's plan was to resume filming early in late 2021 or early 2022, hence the April-May-June target window.
Production on "The Old Man" was well underway when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March 2020. The show was ready to resume filming in October of that year, but then Bridges was diagnosed with lymphoma. Thankfully, Bridges announced in Sept. 2021 that his cancer is in remission. Production has reportedly already resumed, putting "The Old Man" back on track for a 2022 premiere.
Who is in the cast of The Old Man?
Oscar Winner Jeff Bridges ("The Big Lebowski," "Crazy Heart") headlines the cast as retired CIA Agent Dan Chase. Bill Heck ("I Know What You Did Last Summer," "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") plays Dan's younger self in flashbacks.
The main villain of the series will be FBI Deputy Director Harold Harper, to be played by Jon Lithgow ("Third Rock from the Sun," "Dexter"). Alia Shawkat ("Arrested Development," "State of Grace") plays Angele, a young FBI agent — and Harper's mentee — who is tasked with hunting down Chase (via Deadline). Amy Brenneman ("NYPD Blue," "Judging Amy") plays the other series lead, Zoe, a divorcee who rents a room from Dan without realizing he's on the run (via Deadline).
Rounding out the cast are Gbenga Akinnagbe ("The Wire," "The Deuce") as Julian, a special forces operative sent to kill Dan (via Deadline), while Leem Lubany ("Condor," "Baghdad Central") plays Abbey Chase, the younger version of Dan's deceased wife, via flashbacks. Finally, EJ Bonilla ("Madam Secretary," "Shameless") plays CIA operative Raymond Waters, who joins forces with the FBI to pursue Dan (via Variety).
What is the plot of The Old Man?
In the original novel, the main character was a military intelligence officer named Michael Koehler, who stole $20 million during a mission in Libya and currently lives in Vermont with two dogs under an assumed name, Dan Chase. In the TV series, Dan is an ex-CIA operative who left more than 20 years ago and now lives off the grid. Otherwise, "The Old Man" looks like it will largely follow the plot of Perry's thriller. The story begins when an assassin shows up and tries to murder him, forcing him to go on the run as well as confront his past.
The series will also delve into Chase's backstory via flashbacks, following a younger version of Dan as he went rogue and ran off with millions of dollars. Additionally, the show will reportedly follow the FBI and CIA agents assigned to track down Chase (via Deadline). But in doing so, they'll uncover some unpleasant truths about their superiors.