Will Trent is adding a new face to season 5 following a dramatic run of character deaths that reshaped the ABC series.
Alexandra Metz, known for her role on HBO Max’s The Pitt, is joining the cast as Birdie Palmer, according to Deadline.
Birdie is described as the newly appointed Deputy Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The character is said to be confident, ambitious and razor-sharp, while also carrying the weight of a life-changing event from her past.
Her arrival comes after the death of Amanda Wagner, played by Sonja Sohn, during season 4. Amanda had been a central figure on the series since the beginning, making her exit one of the season’s biggest shocks.
Metz, 40, is currently filming season 3 of The Pitt, while production on Will Trent season 5 has also recently started.
Based on Karin Slaughter’s book series, Will Trent follows special agent Will Trent, played by Ramón Rodríguez. After being abandoned at birth and growing up in Atlanta’s foster care system, Will uses his unique perspective and investigative skills to pursue justice as part of the GBI.
Season 4 delivered several emotional blows to viewers.
Along with Amanda’s death, the finale also saw Angie, played by Erika Christensen, finally give birth. Her happiness was cut short when her husband, Seth, played by Scott Foley, collapsed at the hospital and died.
The back-to-back losses left the surviving characters facing major emotional fallout heading into the next season.
Iantha Richardson, who plays Faith, previously joked that the show had started to feel like Game of Thrones because of its unexpected deaths.
She also acknowledged that losing two characters in such a short period was difficult for the cast, while teasing that season 5 would bring plenty of emotional consequences.
According to Richardson, the next chapter will focus heavily on the impact of what happened rather than simply moving past the losses.
With Birdie Palmer now stepping into a major leadership position at the GBI, Metz’s character appears set to play an important role in reshaping the team’s dynamic.
Her addition gives Will Trent a fresh character to explore as the series moves forward from one of its most devastating seasons yet.
Will Trent is currently streaming on Hulu.
