Julianna Margulies will not be reprising her role in the fourth season of Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show.” Sources have confirmed that the decision was made prior to the controversy surrounding her comments on a podcast last year. Margulies was offered a one-episode appearance in the upcoming season, which she declined. However, there have been discussions about her potential return for a possible fifth season.
Margulies joined the series in its second season, portraying journalist Laura Peterson, who becomes romantically involved with Bradley Jackson, played by Reese Witherspoon. Their relationship ends early in the third season, but Laura’s storyline continues throughout the remaining episodes.
In November, Margulies made controversial remarks about Black and LGBTQ communities while discussing the Gaza conflict on a podcast. She later apologized for her comments, stating that she did not intend to offend anyone.
After the third season finale, showrunner Charlotte Stoudt expressed interest in further exploring Laura Peterson’s character in the fourth season. However, these plans were still in the early stages.
Margulies is set to appear on Broadway alongside Peter Gallagher in “Left on Tenth,” an autobiographical play by Delia Ephron. She will also star in Edward Burns’ upcoming film “Millers in Marriage.”
“The Morning Show” centers around the lives of the major players of a morning news show and the network that airs it, amidst various political, financial, and personnel scandals. The series stars Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Greta Lee, Jon Hamm, and Nicole Beharie. Marion Cotillard has been announced as a new cast member for the fourth season.
Margulies’ departure from the show was reportedly decided before her controversial podcast remarks. She was offered a one-episode role in the fourth season, which she turned down. Her team has not commented on the matter.
Margulies’ character, Laura Peterson, was a significant addition to the series in its second season. Laura, a lesbian journalist at UBA 365, had a romantic relationship with Bradley Jackson. Their relationship ended early in the third season, particularly after Bradley hid her brother’s involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots.
Recently, it was announced that Marion Cotillard will join the show as Celine Dumont, a savvy operator from a storied European family. This new character might fill the void left by Laura Peterson’s departure.
The third season of “The Morning Show” concluded with UBA’s fate hanging in the balance. Alex, played by Jennifer Aniston, managed to thwart Paul Marks’ (Jon Hamm) attempt to acquire UBA for his tech company, Hyperion. However, UBA now faces a potential merger with another media company, which could lead to layoffs and restructuring in the fourth season.
Margulies’ decision not to return was made before the backlash from her podcast comments. She turned down an offer to appear in just one episode of the fourth season. In response to the backlash, Margulies expressed her regret for offending the Black and LGBTQ communities, emphasizing her commitment to combating hate and discrimination.
Production for the fourth season of “The Morning Show” is set to begin in July. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston will return as stars and executive producers. Other returning cast members likely include Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Greta Lee, Karen Pittman, and Nestor Carbonell.
Margulies’ absence will undoubtedly be felt, but the show continues to evolve with new characters and storylines. Fans will have to wait and see how the series adapts to these changes in the upcoming season.
