As "The Morning Show" gears up for its return, the Apple series set against the backdrop of a bustling news network ventures into the prevalent post-truth era. In the newly released teaser trailer on Wednesday (embedded below), Jennifer Aniston's character, Alex Levy, the newly appointed top executive at the network, utters a profound statement: "We have to question everything we see and hear now more than ever." Her former co-anchor, Bradley Jackson, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, echoes this sentiment, affirming, "The truth always comes out, you know that."
While the teaser doesn't unveil any fresh footage from the upcoming season, it cleverly overlays lines spoken by the characters as Aniston and Witherspoon are captured walking towards each other beside a mirrored building, modeled after their Manhattan news network headquarters. The reflections of other ensemble members from the Apple TV+ show are replaced by audio teasers of some new characters.
The returning allies of the women, played by Mark Duplass and Billy Crudup, can be heard discussing "dirt to exchange" and offering to take on "someone's dirty work." Meanwhile, Alex's ex-lover and professional nemesis, portrayed by Jon Hamm, offers her sage advice: "You wanna run this place? You have to really, really want it."
The female managers, played by Greta Lee and Karen Pittman, grapple with their new roles in the hierarchy, while new characters, including Boyd Holbrook as a provocative podcaster and talk show host named Brodie, and Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, try to find their footing. Cotillard's character, Celine Dumont, a savvy operator from a prestigious European family, declares, "I like to know who's an ally and who's a liability."
The 10-episode season will premiere on Apple TV+ on September 17 with one episode, followed by weekly releases on Fridays until November 19.
Alongside stars and executive producers Aniston and Witherspoon, the fourth season welcomes new cast members such as Jeremy Irons, Aaron Pierre, and William Jackson Harper. Returning stars include Nestor Carbonell and Nicole Beharie.
The third season concluded with yet another cliffhanger, sending the leading ladies on divergent paths. Alex (Aniston) outsmarted the Elon Musk-like tech billionaire (played by Hamm), who sought to acquire TMS's parent network UBA, ultimately earning Alex a seat at the table to steer the morning show towards a merger with a rival news brand. Meanwhile, Bradley (Witherspoon) faced a possible felony charge for tampering with evidence and obstructing justice related to the January 6th Capitol attack investigation (her brother, portrayed by Joe Tippett, assaulted a police officer during the insurrection; Bradley captured the moment on camera and covered it up in her reporting, leading to her resignation).
"Everybody has to face what they have to face," showrunner Charlotte Stoudt told The Hollywood Reporter after the third season finale. "There is accountability, but it's not bleak. Even when you have to be accountable for something, life can go on."
The fourth season jumps ahead nearly two years after the events of the third season. In the world of "The Morning Show," it's now spring 2024, and the UBA-NBN merger is complete. The newsroom must grapple with newfound responsibilities, hidden motives, and the elusive nature of truth in a polarized America. In a world riddled with deepfakes, conspiracy theories, and corporate cover-ups, who can you trust? And how can you discern what's actually real?
Produced by Media Res, the drama is executive produced by showrunner Stoudt, director Mimi Leder, Michael Ellenberg, and Lindsey Springer through Media Res, Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, Aniston and Kristin Hahn for Echo Films, along with Zander Lehmann and Micah Schraft.
