FX’s ‘The Old Man’ ends after two seasons despite strong reviews

FX has decided to cancel the action-thriller series The Old Man after its second season. Based on Thomas Perry’s novel, the show starred Jeff Bridges as Dan Chase, a retired CIA agent who becomes a fugitive.
In Season 1, Chase’s life took a dramatic turn after he killed a home intruder, forcing him to go on the run. The second season shifted focus to Chase teaming up with Harold Harper, a former FBI assistant director played by John Lithgow. Though Harper initially aimed to capture Chase, the two worked together to rescue Chase’s daughter, Emily (Alia Shawkat), who was kidnapped by Afghan tribal leader Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban). The series explored complex relationships as both Harper and Hamzad claimed a personal connection to Emily.
The cast also included Jacqueline Antaramian as Khadija Hamzad, Amy Brenneman as Zoe McDonald, and Gbenga Akinnagbe as Julian Carson in Season 2. The first season featured E.J. Bonilla as Raymond Waters and Bill Heck portraying a younger version of Dan Chase.
The Old Man debuted in June 2022 to widespread critical acclaim and impressive viewership numbers. However, the two-year gap between seasons led to a decline in audience size despite the second season maintaining the quality of its predecessor.
The series was developed for television by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, who also served as executive producers. Other producers included Dan Shotz, Warren Littlefield, Jeff Bridges, David Schiff, Craig Silverstein, and Jon Watts. The show was a collaboration between 20th Television and the Littlefield Company.
While fans and critics praised the show, FX ultimately decided not to continue it. The news of the cancellation was initially reported by Deadline.