Another new face is joining the crew when "The Orville" returns for season 2.
Chris Johnson has been tapped to recur on the Fox series, according to Deadline. Further details about "The Vampire Diaries" alum's role is currently being kept under wraps — including his name — other than the fact that he is a newcomer on the ship.
Johnson's TV credits include roles in "Chicago Med," "Chicago Fire," "Rosewood," "Betrayal" "Against the Wall" and "The Vampire Diaries. Aside from his "The Orville" gig this year, he will also be seen on the upcoming TNT mini-series "One Day She'll Darken." His most recent films include "47 Meters Down," "5 Star Day" and "Runner."
News of Johnson's casting comes just one week after the network announced that "Piranha 3D" star Jessica Szohr is joining the show as a series regular. While it remains to be seen what Szohr will bring to the ship's crew, Cinemablend speculates she might function as a diplomatic counselor similar to "Star Trek: The Next Generation's" Deanna Troi.
Last month, series creator and lead actor Seth MacFarlane revealed that season 2 of the show will have additional episodes. Compared with the freshman season's 12-episode run, "The Orville" season 2 will have "at least 14 [episodes]." MacFarlane went to explain that instead of making more episodes like the usual 22-episode programs, their priority right now is the quality of the show.
As for the storyline, MacFarlane hinted that season 2 would explore more science fiction themes. "The show was experimental in a lot of ways," MacFarlane shared (via Slash Film). "Tone was the biggest experimental part of it. What we found was that we can lean a little more, heavier into the science fiction and not have to worry so much about knocking out a joke every page."
"The Orville" season 2 premieres later this year on Fox.
