The original showrunners for the HBO series Perry Mason will not be returning for the show’s second season.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Begler and Jack Amiel will take over for Ron Fitzgerald and Rolin Jones. Begler and Amiel are most known for their involvement in the acclaimed series The Knick. This news raises questions about what impact their new gig will have on their involvement in the newly resurrected The Knick revival. (Collider had previously reported the duo had already written a pilot for a new season with Steven Soderbergh and Barry Jenkins attached plus André Holland returning to reprise his role.)
Fitzgerald and Jones had previously spoken to Collider about their plans for another season, indicating that they had interest in continuing with the show:
JONES: There’s definitely a plan. We’ve got 87 books that we can dive into and take whatever we need from. There is plenty of future out there for Perry Mason, should the gods of HBO financing be so inclined to give us that opportunity. There’s plenty there. I think we’re just scratching the surface with a lot of stuff. There’s a lot to do.
Another change for Season 2 is that Tatiana Maslany will not be returning. Maslany was a central figure in Season 1 as Sister Alice, a wannabe prophet who claimed to commune with God — last summer she had told Collider that she didn’t think her character’s arc was over, but Sister Alice did achieve some closure at the end of the season finale.
Season 1 of Perry Mason is streaming now on HBO Max.