Will Trent Season 5: ABC Confirms 2027 Return After Netflix Licensing Deal
ABC has officially confirmed that its hit crime drama Will Trent will return for a fifth season in early 2027. The announcement comes as the series experiences a surge in viewership following a new licensing agreement that brought the first four seasons to Netflix on November 3, 2026.
While a specific premiere date has not been finalized, ABC has historically debuted new seasons of the procedural on the first Tuesday of the year. This pattern suggests a likely return for Season 5 on January 5, 2027. Unlike Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, which was recently confirmed to be ending with its fifth season, ABC has not designated the upcoming season of Will Trent as its final chapter.
Production and Direction Updates
Production for the new season began on August 24, 2026, in Atlanta. Series star Ramón Rodríguez, who plays the titular Special Agent Will Trent, took on an expanded role for the Season 5 premiere by directing the episode. Titled “Wouldn’t Want to Take My Work Home,” the premiere picks up after the high-stakes events of the Season 4 finale.
The move to Netflix is part of a non-exclusive licensing deal between Disney and the streaming giant, designed to build a broader audience ahead of the new episodes. Despite its availability on Netflix, Will Trent remains a fixture on Disney-owned platforms, continuing to stream on Hulu and Disney+ alongside its broadcast home on ABC.
Cast Changes and New Leadership
Season 5 will feature a significant shift in the show’s ensemble following the dramatic conclusion of Season 4. The series must navigate the deaths of two major characters: GBI Deputy Director Amanda Wagner, played by Sonja Sohn, and Dr. Seth McDale, played by Scott Foley.
To fill the leadership void at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Alexandra Metz (The Pitt) has joined the cast as a series regular. Metz will portray Birdie Palmer, the GBI’s new deputy director. Her character is expected to oversee the team as they deal with the fallout of Wagner’s exit and the evolving personal lives of the investigators.
The licensing of the series to Netflix follows a broader trend of Disney sharing library content to maximize revenue and reach. According to Variety, the deal includes other high-profile titles such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Felicity, positioning Will Trent to capitalize on the “Netflix effect” that has previously boosted the ratings of network procedurals like Suits.
Fans can expect the core cast, including Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski and Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell, to return as the series continues to adapt the world created by novelist Karin Slaughter.
