The show that many knew in its infancy as “the Julia Roberts Amazon Prime show” will no longer feature Julia Roberts.
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Julia Roberts will not be returning to Homecoming season 2. Roberts will remain on as an executive producer but will not reprise her role as Homecoming facility therapist Heidi Bergman.
Homecoming is based on a podcast of the same name and is run by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail through his Anonymous Content production label. Season 1 of the show told the story of the Homecoming Transitional Support Center, a private facility working to treat veterans arriving home from war (and score a fat government contract in the process). Through caseworker Heidi Bergman’s interviews and interactions with young veteran Walter Cruz (Stephan James), it is slowly revealed that Homecoming’s mission seems more nefarious than previously realised.
At first glance Homecoming season 1 appears to tell a very complete story, rendering any future seasons unnecessary. But a second season has always been in the cards for Homecoming. Amazon picked up the project as a two-season deal with Julia Roberts committing to only one of those seasons. It would appear now that all parties have agreed that Heidi Bergman needn’t be a part of the second season.
The original podcast on which the show is based did indeed get a second season (though the episode numbers remain 1 through 12 thorugh two seasons). According to Esmail, the show has already deviated far past the podcast’s original concept.
“We’ve deviated from very much of the podcast, so [season two of] the podcast doesn’t really have anything to do with the way the show is going. We’re working on a second season, but we have a very different trajectory for our show,” Esmail told The Hollywood Reporter prior to season 1’s debut.
There is no word yet on the exact direction Homecoming season 2 will take or what cast will return. Just know that if Shea Whigham leaves, we riot.