Fans of The Walking Dead are about to see their favorite actors breathe life into whole new characters. Lauren Cohan and Michael Cudlitz are both headed to the alphabet network in two very different, yet funny new series. ABC has given series orders to both actors' pilots. Here is what we know.
Let's begin with Lauren Cohan, who will star in Whiskey Cavalier. The hour-long dramedy is an action-oriented adventure series that will star Cohan as Francesca "Frankie" Trowbridge, a CIA operative with the codename: "Fiery Tribune." According to ABC's announcement of the series' pickup, it will chronicle Frankie's partnership with FBI super-agent Will Chase (Scott Foley), as they lead an inter-agency team of misfit spies. Their hurdles include steering through the murky minefield of friendship, romance, and office politics.
TV Line shared the news of Michael Cudlitz's new series The Kids Are Alright being picked up, and it sounds similarly quirky to Lauren Cohan's. The sitcom, which is set in the 1970's, will star Cudlitz as the patriarch of a huge Irish-Catholic family, which includes eight (yes, eight) sons. He raises the boisterous bunch alongside his wife Peggy (Mary McCormack), and everything seems to be running smoothly. That is until their oldest son returns home, having quit seminary with startling plans to "save the world." It sounds like this family will have their hands full.
For those wondering how Lauren Cohan's new series will impact her run on The Walking Dead, we know that she will be around for Season 9. How long remains a mystery viewers will have to untangle when the next season debuts. ABC green-lighting the show definitely brings Cohan's tenure on The Walking Dead into question. Can she do both shows? Stranger things have happened; especially if the new show ends up shooting in Atlanta. Clive Standen pulled double duty on History's Vikings and NBC's Taken.
As for Lauren Cohan and Michael Cudlitz, both actors' new shows sound pleasantly similar to successful shows that have come before. Whiskey Cavalier is giving off Chuck vibes with hints of Bones, while Cudlitz's The Kids Are Alright sounds like a light-hearted version of American Dreams meets The Wonder Years. None of those series are bad company to keep.
Whiskey Cavalier hails from writer/executive producer Dave Hemingson with Scrubs' creator Bill Lawrence, onboard as one of the series' executive producers. Former Last Man Standing showrunner Tim Doyle is the creator behind The Kids Are Alright.
Whiskey Cavalier and The Kids Are Alright are both expected to premiere during the 2018-2019 broadcast season on ABC. In light of all of the cancellations, it is nice to hear some good news. For the latest on what to expect next season, check out our 2018 network TV rundown. If you are wondering what's coming up in between now and fall, we have you covered there too. Check out which new and returning shows will be on during the hot season with our summer premiere schedule.
