Tony award-winner Audra McDonald joins ‘The Good Fight’

There are plenty of changes for season 2 of The Good Fight, with Audra McDonald and other familiar faces joining the cast, while some old favourites move on.

Former 'The Good Wife' guest star Audra McDonald joins the cast of 'The Good Fight'. Source: CBS

By the end of its first season, The Good Fight’s ensemble cast had settled in nicely. So what better time to shake things up? When the show comes back this Wednesday on SBS and SBS On Demand, expect to see some new faces joining the show, recurring actors promoted to regulars, and the departure of a beloved actress.

Joining the cast

Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald joins the cast of the show, shaking up the status quo at the law firm as Liz Lawrence. This is a character we've met before in a season four episode of The Good Wife, but we'd totally understand if you don't remember the episode - it's been a few years now.

Adrian Boseman will see a lot more of his ex-wife this season. Source: SBS

In  the series return, we’ll discover Liz was also once married to name partner Adrian Boseman (Delroy Lindo) – and that her full name is Liz Reddick-Lawrence. We also learn of her connection to one of the other name partners at the firm Reddick, Boseman, and Kolstad. Within minutes of the series return, we'll find out just what role she plays in the life of name partner, Carl Reddick (Louis Gossett Jr).

No doubt, Liz won't be making a lot of new friends on the show.

Tim Matheson is set to complicate things for Diane. Source: Getty

If you thought Diane (Christine Baranski) reconciling with Kurt (Gary Cole) was the end game, don’t be so sure - Tim Matheson has been signed to play a love interest for the lawyer. Matheson’s character is a bartender who comes into contact with Diane and, judging by what we see in the season two trailer, he does much more than just pour her a drink.

Rob Reiner as Judge Brickner. Source: SBS

And a new season of The Good Fight means we can expect to see some familiar faces popping up behind the judge's bench. Confirmed for season two is an appearance by veteran actor/director Rob Reiner – and it seems his character, the Honorable Josh Brickner, will keep the lawyers on their toes.

Leaving the cast

Erica Tazel is leaving 'The Good Fight'. Source: SBS

Meanwhile, the third named partner at Reddick, Boseman & Kolstad, Barbara Kolstad (Erica Tazel) is on the way out of the firm. How and why Barbara leaves will all be revealed early in the season - it won’t be a case of us tuning in to discover she’s quietly moved on between seasons.

While Tazel never became a huge presence on the show, all of us that became fans of her on Justified will be sad to see her move on.

Promoted to regular

Michael Boatman as Julius Cain. Source: SBS

With three extra episodes in season two, there’ll be an opportunity to give more airtime to some of The Good Fight’s supporting players. So much so that formerly recurring characters Jay Dipersia (Nyambi Nyambi), the firm’s softly spoken investigator, and Trump-voting partner Julius Cain (Michael Boatman) now have main cast status.

Jay will have a greater presence this season. Source: SBS

Expect Jay to continue mentoring aspiring investigator Marissa (Sarah Steele) this season, while Julius’s politics provide the show with a unique opportunity. "We love the idea of an African-American conservative who finds it harder and harder given the partisan nature of the law firm and where it's headed," creator Michelle King told The Hollywood Reporter.

 

Watch The Good Fight on Wednesday 7 March at 9:40pm on SBS.