Fans of Will Trent hopeful for the return of a key villain may be out of luck, at least for now!
Will Trent is set to return for Season 3 with a new look for the lead character. When last we saw the show in May 2024, Will (Ramon Rodriguez) had been forced to arrest love Angie (Erika Christensen) for covering up a murder. He then left both GBI, and it seems Georgia itself.
Season 3 picks up six months later as Will returns with a new bitter and laid-back attitude and the question of whether he should rejoin the GBI. Angie is out of jail and trying to get back on the force which is an uphill battle as Will faces new challenges.
Among them is fans wondering if the show will bring back one of its most notable foes, James Ulster. Played by Greg Germann, Ulster popped up in the first season as an attorney involved in criminal matters. Will eventually discovered Ulster was the serial killer who'd been a recurring threat and whose victims included Will's own birth mother.
Ulster abducted Angie, brutally beating her down with Will close to killing him. Ulster tried to take the easy way out by poisoning himself only to survive and was arrested.
In season 2, Will visited Ulster in jail to get a lead on a bomber. Ulster had been sending Will care packages and hinting he might be Will's biological father. Will refused to take a blood test to prove it, convinced it was just one of Ulster's mind games. He was forced to defend Ulster when a prison riot broke out.
That was the last seen of the character but fans are wondering if maybe he'll pop in again in Season 3. We now seem to have an answer!
Is Ulster returning in Will Trent Season 3?
A TVLine story on Will Trent confirmed that Ulster will not appear in the Season 3 premiere. In fact, it doesn't even sound like the character is mentioned.
That does make some sense as Will is still reeling over having to arrest Angie and doing a lot of soul searching in his self-exile. The last thing he'd want is to reconnect with Ulster and endure that man's twisted games or the hints he's Will's father.
The premiere will focus on what's changed for Will, Angie, and the other characters while setting up a new mystery. There's no real purpose for Ulster to be involved in the storyline and no need to cram in an unnecessary cameo.
Now, this doesn't mean we won't see Ulster at all on the show in Season 3. Germann makes the character a compelling villain, convinced he was in love with Will's mom and still the question if he's telling the truth on being Will's father. With Will trying to get himself back on track after the events of Season 2, he may want to find out once and for all the biological connection just to give himself closure.
It's also possible the producers are keeping a return under wraps, so it's a bigger surprise to the audience when it happens. It's hard to see the show not using Ulster in Season 3, given how big a role he plays in Will's life.
So while it sounds like Ulster won't be popping up in the Season 3 premiere, don't rule out the villain showing up down the road to continue making life hard for Will Trent but great for the show's fans.
Will Trent Season 3 premieres on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8/7c on ABC.