Apple TV+ renewed the hit series The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, for a third season, the company said Monday. The streaming service also signed a multiyear deal with WGA Award winner Charlotte Stoudt to be the third season’s showrunner and executive producer, and to produce other scripted series.
In addition to Stoudt (whose credits include Fosse/Verdon, Homeland and House of Cards), Aniston and Witherspoon serve as executive producers on The Morning Show, which has won Emmy, SAG and Critics Choice awards. It is directed by Mimi Leder and produced by the studio Media Res, Hello Sunshine and Echo Films.
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Scripted series deal for Stoudt
Apple TV+ signed a new, multiyear overall deal with Stoudt for scripted television series. Kerry Ehrin, who developed The Morning Show and served as showrunner on the first two seasons, will serve as consultant on the third season. She will continue developing new series for Apple TV+ under a previously announced deal.
“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+, in Monday’s press release announcing the third season. “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.”
“I’m excited to be joining forces with Apple TV+ and ‘The Morning Show,’” said Stoudt. “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.”
The Morning Show: The action so far
The series was inspired by Brian Stelter’s book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.
Picking up after the dramatic events of season one, season two found The Morning Show team emerging from the wreckage of Alex (Aniston) and Bradley’s (Witherspoon) actions, to a new UBA network and a world in flux. As the series shows, identity is everything and the difference between who we present as and who we really are often comes into play.
Along with Aniston and Witherspoon, the cast includes Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Bel Powley, Desean Terry, Janina Gavankar, Tom Irwin and Marcia Gay Harden. Season two added Greta Lee, Ruairi O’Connor, Hasan Minhaj, Holland Taylor, Tara Karsian as news producer Gayle Burns, Valeria Golino and Julianna Margulies.
Michael Ellenberg is an executive producer on the show through Media Res, which also serves as the studio, along with Aniston and Kristin Hahn through Echo Films and Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter through Hello Sunshine.
Awards won
In show’s first season, Crudup’s performance as Corey Ellison earned an Emmy win in the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category, in addition to a Critics Choice Award. Aniston’s performance as Alex Levy earned a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series. The series also received nominations from the Television Critics Association for Outstanding New Program and a TV Choice Award for Best New Drama.
The first and second seasons of The Morning Show are streaming on Apple TV+.
To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have received 192 wins and 788 award nominations. The streaming service is available by subscription for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.
