Murder in a Small Town just added an Oscar winner to the Season 2 cast, which will boost the show's energy!
One of Fox's nicer surprises in 2024 was Murder in a Small Town. Based on the books by L.R. Wright, the series stars Rossif Sutherland as Karl Alberg, a former big-city cop who moves to the small British Columbia town of Gibsons to become its police chief.
Alberg soon starts a relationship with librarian Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk) as he solves a variety of murders and other crimes in the town. The show has had a notable guest star cast that includes Stana Katic, Erica Durance, and others. It was a good success that landed a second-season renewal.
Who is joining Murder in a Small Town?
Now, Season 2 will be a big deal as Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden is joining as a series regular. She'll play Christie Holman, the Mayor of Gibsons who, per TVLine, is described as "a beloved figure in the community, a consummate political operator and a practicing doctor and has the best interests of the people of Gibsons, British Columbia at heart, though sometimes she lets her personal interests take precedence. Holman will complicate things for Alberg as she uses the competing priorities of the community to advance her own agenda."
That promises some major drama as it's likely Holman will cause problems for Alberg, who is not a guy used to obeying authority. He and Cassandra are trying to balance out their relationship and Holman's presence could shift that tup.
Why Marcia Gay Harden is a great pick for Holman
The casting of Marcia Gay Harden is a great move for the show. The veteran actress appeared in numerous films before her turn in 2000's Pollack, which won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. That's led to scores of movies since, like the Fifty Shades series.
Harden is also famous for her TV roles with recurring parts on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Newsroom, and How to Get Away With Murder. She headlined the CBS drama Code Black and recently the popular So Help Me Todd, which was canceled in early 2024.
Harden is a fine choice for Holman with a history of playing tough women who can be commanding and yet coming off friendly as well. She can boss Alberg around while being friendly to Cassandra, and it's believable how she can be the town's mayor. Not to mention, Harden can rock a suit very well.
The show is set to begin production this summer before returning in the fall of 2025. With Harden added on, it's a great boost for Season 2 to make this mystery show far more compelling.
Murder in a Small Town Season 1 is available to stream on Hulu.