Posted in: Amazon Studios, streaming, TV | Tagged: amazon, bleeding cool, bobby cannavale, cable, drama, homecoming, Hong Chau, janelle monae, julia roberts, Mystery, podcast, season 2, Shea Whigham, stephan james, streaming, television, thriller, tv
"Homecoming" Season 2: Amazon Casts Janelle Monae as Lead in Thriller-Drama
Amazon's psychological thriller Homecoming has cast singer/songwriter/actress Janelle Monáe (Harriet, Hidden Figures) as lead for the drama's upcoming second season. The description of Monáe's character speaks volumes to the direction the show may be going this time, described as "a tenacious woman who finds herself floating in a canoe, with no memory of how she got there — or even who she is." Directed by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) and created by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, the first season starred Julia Roberts – who is not returning but is remaining as an executive producer on the Amazon Studios/UCP co-production. Fans of the popular Gimlet Media podcast will find the series moving beyond the soure material, including the introduction of new characters.
While no additional casting has been confirmed, Deadline Hollywood reports that Bobby Cannavale, Stephan James, Hong Chau, and possibly Shea Whigham are expected to make a second-season return.
Homecoming's first season focused on Heidi Bergman (Roberts), a caseworker at the Homecoming Transitional Support Center, a Geist Group facility helping soldiers transition back to civilian life. Walter Cruz (James) is one of these soldiers, eager to begin the next phase of his life. Overseeing Heidi and the facility is Colin Belfast (Cannavale), an ambitious company man whose manic demands point to questionable motives.
Four years later, Heidi has started a new life when a Department of Defense auditor (Whigham) comes to her with questions about why she left the Homecoming facility. Heidi begins to realize that there's a whole other story behind the story she's been telling herself.
Homecoming is executive produced by Esmail through his UCP-based production company Esmail Corp; as well as Chad Hamilton of Anonymous Content; the podcast's Horowitz and Bloomberg; and Chris Giliberti, Alex Blumberg, and Matt Lieber of Gimlet Media. Roberts exec produces through her production company Red Om Films.