ABC has finally made a decision on Will Trent but will the quirky procedural drama manage to get a second season for the network?
Based on the books by Karin Slaughter, Will Trent stars Ramon Rodriguez in the title role of a quirky investigator for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Known for his three-piece suits, arrogant manner and odd mannerisms on a case, Trent is a brilliant detective. He also has dyslexia, a condition he keeps quiet.
Trent is aided by partner Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson) and answers to boss Amanda Wagner (Sonja Sohn). He also helps Atlanta cop Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen), his childhood friend from foster care and on/off lover. While on the outs with the Atlanta PD for turning in some corrupt cops, Trent still uses his skills to solve crimes.
Since premiering in January, the show has been a good success, earning a total of 9.9 million viewers and improving in the ratings. It’s helped by having The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds as lead-ins, as there has been a concern if it can earn a second season after all.
Ramon Rodriquez speaks on Will Trent’s fate
Thankfully for fans, ABC has come through and renewed the show for a second season. Rodriguez (who also serves as a producer) spoke to Variety about the renewal and how happy he is to continue in the role.
"“We’re so thankful to our ABC and Hulu fans for joining us on this wild ride and watching ‘Will Trent.’ When we set out to bring the series to television screens, we wanted to do justice to the gritty, thrilling world that Karin Slaughter created with her bestselling book series. Liz Heldens, Dan Thomsen and the creative team have developed complex and nuanced characters that people are relating to on a human level — and it hasn’t hurt having our little star, Betty, on the call sheet. We’re so excited for the opportunity to dive deeper into these stories with season two.”"
When will Will Trent Season 2 premiere?
ABC has yet to announce their 2023-24 schedule, so it’s uncertain when Will Trent will return. It’s possible the network might decide to give it a fall premiere and partner with The Rookie or wait until midseason.
The Season 1 finale is set for Tuesday, May 2 and fans are happy it won’t be the end as Will Trent looks to continue his crime-solving on ABC for a while.