The "Good Wife" season five could hold the future of a central character in the balance. Josh Charles, who plays Will Gardner on the CBS hit, signed a new deal with the show last spring to continue playing the character of Will, but the deal is only for one year. Producers of the show are unsure as to whether season five could potentially be his last.
TVLine reports that executive producer Robert King said that he is prepared for the possibility of Charles staying or leaving, despite the drastic changes that would entail for the storyline.
"We can turn on, well, not a dime, but a 50-cent piece," King said about the show's direction. "We can turn things pretty fast if we need to."
King is not annoyed by the actor's ambivalence; he understands Charles' unique contract agreement. Charles is the only cast member of series who did not sign a long term contract deal.
"It's what Josh is about. He's someone who wants to always explore different sides of himself," King explained. "And how [season five] goes helps him decide what he wants to do. That sounds like there's some contentiousness in our relationship. There's not. Josh is one of the friendliest and nicest actors I've met. Anything that is contractual stays with the agents."
Although Charles' future with "The Good Wife" beyond season five is uncertain, it is confirmed that season five will include Charles, as well as a number of new guest stars.
According to TVLine, Talia Balsam will be joining the show as a featured guest star. Balsam will be appear early on in season five as a political journalist. Balsam is known for her work on "Mad Men" and the CIA-thriller series "Homeland." Balsam plays the ex-wife of ad man Roger Sterling on "Mad Men," who is played by John Slattery, to whom she is married in real life. Balsam also played the wife of the Vice President of the United States on Showtime's "Homeland."
In addition to Balsam, Melissa George of "Hunted" and "Alias" has joined the show to assume the recurring role of Marilyn, Governor Florrick's in-house ethics counsel.
Zach Grenier, who plays David Lee, has also been upped to a series regular. Gary Cole, America Ferrera and Emmy-nominated Carrie Preston are also returning to the hit CBS show.
TVLine also gained an inside scoop on some of the show's upcoming storylines.
The show will pick up where the last season left off, with Alicia and Cary (Matt Czuchry) ready to walk out the door of Lockhart Gardner. Executive Producer Robert King shared at the Television Critics Association press tour that the fifth season will focus on Alicia and Cary's impending departure from the law firm. Their exit will lead to a "civil war" with their new firm.
TVLine reports that Margulies said that Alicia is "leaving the law firm because she knows if she stays there, in her peripheral vision will always be Will... In her heart of hearts, she thinks [leaving is] the smart move."
Although there will be a number of new faces on the set this upcoming season, King asserts that the show will focus on the "team" and not the new guest stars.
"The Good Wife" returns to CBS on September 29.
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