“The Morning Show” has a knack for covering current events: the MeToo movement, space travel and in season 4, AI. And this reflection of what’s happening in the real world will likely continue in Season 5.
“I think we’re going to look at what’s happening now. The current situation is daunting; the world is upside down and how do we navigate this world of half-truths? What is real? Certainly the Epstein files are up to date now,” executive producer and director Mimi Leder said before the show. VarietyScreening of the finale on November 19 in Los Angeles. “I’m not saying we’re doing this, I’m just saying it’s been a consistent theme, it seems, since the beginning of our show – from the Me Too movement to where we are today with the release of the files. Hopefully there’s some justice for these women.”
Mark Duplass also hopes the show will cover the current attack on journalism. “I would love to see a big storyline next season where a man, in a position of power, gets beheaded for calling someone a pig on a news line,” he said before the panel.
The panel also included showrunner Charlotte Stoudt, casting director Victoria Thomas, executive producer Kristin Hahn, executive producer and star Jennifer Aniston, actors Boyd Holbrook and Karen Pittman.
JC Olivera
Leder shared that the final scene of season 4, in which Mia enters Céline’s office and looks around, was filmed the day after the election, when Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump, increasing the emotion on set.
“It was about will Mia have the opportunity to embrace her power? Will she succeed? We knew the state of the world and what was happening, and it was terrifying,” said Leder, who directed the episode. “We just wanted to take moments of Mia with her long nails touching the desk and contemplating the room and what could be… We were definitely saying, ‘This isn’t over. We have to fight. And we still do.’
Stoudt added that there are many current issues that the series could address in the future, because the goal is to have “emotional resonance” and for audiences to see “what America feels like.”
“We are not only talking about [the] 47[th president]. It’s not the only thing we need to talk about — it’s partly [asking] how can we look at the whole landscape and learn interesting things from it? she asked. “For example, why do the seven richest men in the world feel so strongly about journalism? And should they be allowed to control these things?
Pittman chimed in after Stoudt’s question, responding: “No. They shouldn’t.”
That sounds as if Paul, played by Jon Hamm, would be back next season. While the group played coy about it during the panel, Leder confirmed to Variety before Hamm returns in season 5.
“Jon Hamm returns. Is this a spoiler? Who cares?” she laughed. “He’s coming back. He’s the Hammster, we love him.”
Watch the full panel from “The Morning Show” event above. All four seasons are available to stream on Apple TV+.
