Jeff Bridges’ Return in ‘John Wick’-Style Series: August 2024 Update

A two-year gap between seasons is often both expected and frustrating for viewers. This would generally apply to an FX series echoing elements of both John Wick and Taken, two highly popular, vengeance-themed action movies that kept audiences coming back for more. Fans of Jeff Bridges are particularly eager for the return of The Old Man, the thriller-espionage series that spans decades. During the break, Bridges has faced significant challenges, including recovering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after shooting the first season with a sizable tumor in his stomach. However, the resilient actor is back and ready for action.

Bridges returns as ex-CIA operative Dan Chase for intense and realistic action scenes. This season, he joins forces with John Lithgow’s character, Harold Harper, as they embark on a mission together. Thankfully, Bridges confirms that he’s “feeling great now,” which sets up what to expect from the second season.

The new season’s trailer unveils its key attraction: realistic action centered on a 75-year-old former assassin who still retains his skills but operates at a slower pace. Unlike characters of the typical action genre, such as those portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dan Chase’s abilities are portrayed more authentically. According to Bridges and executive producer Warren Littlefield, the series will dive deep into Afghanistan, featuring Rottweilers and intense mission scenarios. Dan and Harold aim to retrieve Emily Chase/Angela (played by Alia Shawkat) from warlord Faraz Hamzad, although the trailer hints she might not want rescuing.

This unexpected twist aligns with FX’s synopsis for the second season. They describe a complicated scenario with all three primary male characters—Dan, Harold, and Faraz—each claiming Emily as their daughter. This leads to an identity crisis and more chaos.

As Chase and Harper fight their way to get to Emily, Hamzad is forced to make decisions that could endanger his family and the village he has led faithfully for a lifetime. Khadija, Hamzad’s sister and trusted advisor, is concerned about the path her brother has taken and what it will cost them. As the stakes get higher and more secrets are uncovered, Zoe McDonald makes surprising moves after having been drawn into a new world by Chase….

The series is based on Thomas Perry’s 2017 book of the same name, adding layers to Dan Chase’s history and the various parties with conflicting motives. The trailer hints that Dan’s own past actions will come back to haunt him this season. The show’s ongoing tension revolves around discovering who the “old man” in the title truly is.

Interestingly, Amy Brenneman’s character Zoe appears to be adapting well to her new lifestyle. Brenneman has explained that although Zoe is an outsider to Dan’s espionage world, she is an American woman in the twenty-first century with a complex life. She must shape-shift and deceive as much as any spy to navigate her day-to-day existence.

Although similarities to John Wick exist, they are purely coincidental yet welcome. It’s interesting to note that the concept for John Wick originally centered on a 75-year-old ex-assassin before Keanu Reeves joined the project.

Returning for the new season are Alia Shawkat as Emily/Angela, along with Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, and Pej Vahdat/Navid Negahban, both portraying the warlord Faraz Hamzad at different ages. The cast also includes Jacqueline Antaramian, Amy Brenneman, and Gbenga Akinnagbe.

Fans can look forward to the second season on September 12. FX will release two episodes initially, with subsequent episodes dropping weekly on Hulu for a total of eight episodes.

The trailer doubles down on Soundgarden’s music, showcasing Emily’s new circumstances and Harold’s rough adaptation to new environments.