TheBrendan FraserandTom Welling-led seriesProfessionalsrecently finished its first season run in the states. But even with the duo leading the charge, a Season 2 renewal is still up in the air. The series acts as a spin-off to the 2012 featureSoldiers of Fortune. It follows Vincent Corbo (Welling), an ex-counterintelligence officer recruited by billionaire Peter Swann (Fraser) and his financée, Dr. Graciela Davila (Elena Anaya), to investigate a suspected sabotage after a medical satellite explodes on launch. The show was filmed back in 2019 in South Africa and Ireland. It was acquired by The CW in 2021 and eventually premiered in the states in October with a 10-episode first season.
In recent months, The CW has cancelled nearly all of its scripted series, which begs the question of whether they will choose to move forward with a second season forProfessionals. Ratings-wise, the series performed rather low, with the season finale landing at 290K/0.0. However, as noted byTVLine, one major renewal factor may lie with Fraser and the current trajectory of his career, namelyThe Whale. While it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Fraser would return for a second season, it’s difficult to imagine him returning to a network with a shaky future regarding its programming. Moreover, an outpouring of praise for Fraser’s performance inThe Whale, and a Golden Globe nomination, is keeping him on the path to a potential Oscar nomination and win. As such, it’s more likely he would continue being a hot-ticket actor for feature films and more notable television programs.
Similarly, Fraser is currently a series regular in HBO Max’s seriesDoom Patrol, which is in the middle of its fourth season. While it has yet to be renewed or cancelled, the show has a dedicated fan base that has kept it going thus far. It has also been well received by critics and general audiences alike, which, should it receive a fifth season, also stands out as the television project Fraser would stick with first. He also has additional projects in the works that could impact aProfessionalsrenewal decision, includingKillers of the Flower MoonandBrothers.
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Despite the show’s uncertain future, co-creatorJeff Mosttold TVLine the team is looking forward anyway, saying they’re “eager to produce a second season, and are well along in creating the storyline.” Most also confirmed they are “working closely with [their] broadcast partners” but have yet to receive solid confirmation either way. Most has not revealed any potential Season 2 plot details at this time.
Professionalswas co-created, showrun, and executive produced by Most andMichael Colleary. It is a co-production between the Republic of Ireland and South Africa and is distributed by Rainmaker content for LEONINE Studios. Additional cast includesSaïd Taghmaoui,Ken Duken,Lisa Loven Kongsli,August Wittgenstein,Stevel Marc,Tanya Van Graan, andNic Rasenti.
ProfessionalsSeason 1 is available to watch on The CW app andwebsite. Check out the trailer below:
