Posted in: Max, TV | Tagged: The Pitt

The Pitt Star Noah Wyle on Tracy Ifeachor Not Returning for Season 2

The Pitt star/EP Noah Wyle cut through the rumblings and addressed why Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Heather Collins isn't returning for Season 2.

Last week, the news hit that Tracy Ifeachor (Dr. Heather Collins) had departed EP John Wells and series creator R. Scott Gemmill's Noah Wyle-starring and executive-producing medical drama The Pitt ahead of its second season. Since that time, fans and media sites have been speculating about the reason. Speaking with Deadline Hollywood, Wyle put to rest many of the rumblings out there, making it clear that Ifeachor's departure came down to where the storylines were heading this season and nothing else. "I mean, we've all been sort of amused by the speculation about what everybody thinks might be a reason," Wyle shared. "But truthfully, we loved the actress. We enjoyed having her with us very much. She's gotten really big and we will miss her."

On Tuesday, it was announced that the hit HBO Max series had picked up 13 nominations, including noms for Outstanding Drama and Outstanding Actor for Wyle. In addition, the streaming series took home noms for supporting actress (Katherine LaNasa), guest actor (Shawn Hatosy), directing (Wells and Amanda Marsalis), writing (Joe Sachs and Gemmill), sound editing, and casting.

"What a blessing to be a part of this first and foundational season of #ThePitt on [HBO Max]. It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece. Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me," Ifeachor wrote in a recent Instagram post, before the news of her departure was announced:

The Pitt Season 2: Channing Dungey, Noah Wyle Offer Insights

In terms of the 15-episode season, Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO of the Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, shared that increasing the number was discussed (and could possibly happen in the future), but the focus right now is sticking with what's working. "There was a conversation about doing a little bit more. I think right now, we're still looking at 15 as the model. If it ends up going up from there, it would probably only be by a couple of episodes, certainly not all the way to 22," Dungey noted to Deadline Hollywood.

"What's wonderful is, this is a perfect collaboration," she continued. "John Wells, who is a master showrunner, but also someone who knows how to tell premium broadcast television stories. He brought those skills to play here with R. Scott Gemmill and with Noah Wyle. And it is truly gratifying because it's not that often that you have a show that really hits on all measures. It's critically acclaimed; audiences love it. It delivers on all fronts, and that's been so satisfying for all of us."

In terms of production already being underway on the second season, Dungey explained that a quick turn-around is key to maintaining the connection that the viewers have for the show. "One of the reasons that we wanted to have an early renewal is because we want to keep it on an annual cadence. That's the other part of this broadcast-style model. You fall in love with these [streaming] shows, you see eight episodes, and then you have to wait 18 months for there to be more," she shared. "The whole promise of 'The Pitt' was that we would be on an annual cadence, and we're going to be able to make that happen."

During an interview with Variety shortly after the season finale dropped, Wyle shared what it was like approaching a character for a second season after "you leave it all on the floor" during the first season, now knowing if Season 2 would become a reality. "That's a funny thing when you don't think you're going to do a second season; you leave it all on the floor in the first season. Then you suddenly go, 'Oh, my God. OK, life continues. So what do we do now?' The best way to answer that is to recognize that, in a perfect world, this show goes several seasons, so we don't have to rush this process. The responsibility is now on us to say, 'Where would these people be nine months later?' And answer that honestly and thoughtfully," he explained.

In terms of what Dr. Robby learned about himself, Wyle has a pretty clear understanding of what his character will confront immediately after the season's final episode. "He's going to go home after episode 15, drink that other beer, probably something else, so he can fall asleep, and he's going to wake up the next morning and no longer be able to pretend to himself that he doesn't need help," he revealed. "He can maybe pretend to a couple of people, but not for very long. So, even in a performative way, he's going to have to start exploring what different modalities are available and seeing which ones have resonance."

Of course, realizing he needed help was one major hurdle for Dr. Robby to clear, but seeing how he tries to make that happen – and self-sabotage along the way – is an aspect of his character's growth that Wyle is looking forward to tackling. "I'm really interested in the exploration of somebody who now wants to get help but is their own worst enemy in embracing it. He'll be devil's advocate. He'll try to shoot theories and holes in anything, but inadvertently, he'll find some kind of ladder, and in doing so, I hope that we are able to show a range of modalities of treatment, a range of options that people can make use of," he explained.

Joining Wyle (Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch) for the streaming series are Tracey Ifeachor (Dr. Collins), Patrick Marron Ball (Dr. Langdon), Supriya Ganesh (Dr. Mohan), Fiona Dourif (Dr. McKay), Taylor Dearden (Dr. King), Isa Briones (Dr. Santos), Gerran Howell (Whitaker), Shabana Azeez (Javadi), and Katherine LaNasa (Dana Evans).

HBO's The Deuce star Sepideh Moafi has joined the cast for the second season in the series regular role of an attending physician in emergency medicine. In addition, Charles Baker (Breaking Bad), Irene Choi (Insatiable), Laëtitia Hollard (Trauma), and Lucas Iverson (Shakespeare Theatre Co.'s Frankenstein) have been tapped for recurring roles. Baker's Troy is "an unhoused man forgotten by most, and a patient in the ED." Choi's Joy is "a third-year medical student with strong boundaries and a vast knowledge of medicine that leans toward the macabre." Hollard's Emma is "a recent nursing school graduate who some may consider naive." Iverson's James is "a fourth-year medical student."

Max's The Pitt is a co-production with Sky Studios, produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, where JWP is under an overall deal. R. Scott Gemmill will write the first episode and executive produce the series alongside Noah Wyle (ER, "The Librarian" franchise, Falling Skies), Emmy-winner John Wells (Animal Kingdom, Shameless, The West Wing, ER) and JWP's Erin Jontow (Emperor Of Ocean Park, Rescue: HI-Surf, Maid), Simran Baidwan (Manifest, Ordinary Joe, The Good Doctor, Chicago Med), and Michael Hissrich (Shameless, The West Wing, Third Watch).

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