Will Trent’s Cast Exodus Brings Back Its Original Premise

Will Trent's Returning Forgotten Plot Can Finally Work In Season 5 ABC (via MoviesStillsDb) Published Aug 26, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things She has spearheaded the effort to make the site an authority on broadcast shows, initially starting with The Big Bang Theory franchise, NCIS, and One Chicago before taking on the specialization in general. Ana has also covered a wide-spread of topics in the past — from franchises like, the MCU and Star Wars, to classic TV favorites, such as Frasier and MASH. Ana brings clarity and enthusiasm to every story she tackles—whether reporting on new releases or offering deep dives into fan-favorite franchises. Her coverage translates complex entertainment developments into engaging, audience-focused content. Bringing back Will Trent's forgotten plot in season 5 sets it up for success. ABC has turned the Karin Slaughter story-turned-TV series into an underrated hit on traditional broadcasting, bringing in 4-5 million viewers every week, including the 2025-2026 TV cycle. While often overlooked compared to the fanfare that The Rookie and High Potential tend to have, the Ramón Rodríguez-led series is delivering on what a procedural does best, with its creative weekly cases interlaced with compelling personal narrative. Police procedurals are the backbone of traditional broadcasting, with the Big Three having their own selection of offerings for viewers to choose from. While the longest-running ones are on NBC and CBS, with Law & Order: SVU season 28 and NCIS season 24, ABC is quietly working on its roster of soon-to-be classics, and after just four seasons, Will Trent can achieve that status, as long as it maintains the quality of its storytelling. Following a particularly transformative season 4, the Atlanta-based show has a chance to finally make its original premise work when it returns. Will Trent & Angie's Romance Is Best Poised To Work In Season 5 After the unexpected death of Amanda, Will Trent season 4 saved another loss with the tragic demise of Seth. Scott Foley's character had been a wonderful addition to the cast of the project as Angie's new love interest. Despite initial skepticism, the project was able to sell the pair's love story effectively, to the point that they even had a small but romantic wedding. Between that and the way Seth died, it's difficult not to be brokenhearted about his death. That said, Foley's exit paves the way for a much stronger bond between Angie and Wilbur, and this time, if and when it becomes romantic again, it will no longer be rooted in trauma bonding, which factored in their original toxic dynamic. Much has changed since the pair's break-up, which resulted in a period of awkwardness between the pair. As they went on their separate ways, finally accepting that they couldn't continue being lovers, they were able to bring back their friendship as the core of their relationship. This was on full display when Wilbur talked to Angie before she tied the knot, and then when she helped him deal with the grief of losing Amanda. Will Trent season 4 ended with Wilbur returning the favor and promising that he would be there for her and Edith. Should ABC Set Up Will Trent & Angie As Endgame & Ignore The Books? ABC (via MoviesStillsDb) There have been several ways that the ABC series has deviated from its source material, and most of them have been received positively. After all, a good adaptation can't just be a direct copy, as it leaves no room for surprises. With that comes whether ABC's Will Trent will change Wilbur's romantic endgame to Angie. As readers of Slaughter's books will know, the GBI special agent does not end up with his childhood friend in print. Instead, he gets to spend the rest of his life with Sara Linton — a character who has yet to be introduced in the ABC series. Assuming that Will Trent runs for more years, it's best for ABC and its writers to play this by ear. While there's no denying that Wilbur's relationship with Sara in the books is solid, it's also difficult to just cast aside his relationship with Angie that has already been developed for years. Bringing in a new character and pairing it with the show's titular character comes with its own risks, especially if a new and better romance blossoms between Wilbur and Edie's mom in Will Trent season 5. Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series. SIGN UP NOW! Will Trent Release Date January 3, 2023 Network ABC Cast Ramón Rodríguez Will Trent Erika Christensen Angie Polaski