All American could get a new cast in a potential Season 7

It’s a good news/bad news situation for All American fans. On the one hand, it sounds like the show may have a good chance of being renewed for Season 7! The bad is that not all the cast may be returning for it! Here’s what we know!

The CW has, to put it mildly, been chaotic in the last few years. The merger with Nexstar has led to scores of shows being canceled, including the Arrowverse and others. One of the survivors has been All American, the football drama that’s done well since premiering in 2018. The show’s sixth season was delayed due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes but has been going strong since its return. 

The question revolves around whether All American can get a new season with the CW moving away from original scripted drama and more to sports and reality shows and acquiring series from Canada. Filming in the U.S. adds to the cost, something networks are wary about post-strikes. 

Thankfully, a report from Deadline indicates that All American has a strong chance for renewal. The show did get an additional two episodes to extend the Season 6 order to 15. One thing in its favor is the over $1 million licensing fee and the show is a success on Netflix. That’s better than the spin-off, Homecoming, which required some budget cuts for its upcoming third season that included casting changes. 

However, if All American returns, it’s likely not everyone in the cast will come with it and the show may take a bold new direction.

Can All American change its entire cast?

The saga of All American has always been about Spencer James rising from high school football star to college one. Season 6 actually jumped a year and a half in time to show the gang heading toward college junior year. The producers have always talked of the plan for seven seasons to culminate in Spencer heading into the NFL draft and leaving college behind.

Thus, according to sources in Deadline, a Season 7 would cut most (if not nearly all) of the original cast and bring in some younger cast members, perhaps going back to high school a bit. There’s even a chance of a “full circle” bit of Spencer returning to his high school to coach a new squad. It would both lower costs and give the show new life, letting it run for a few more seasons and build on a fresh take of characters and storylines. 

That might be jarring for fans who love so many of the show's characters but not unlike how series such as Glee had to adjust with new cast members. A high school/college show is always tricky in keeping the cast together for so many years and logical several of these characters move on to new lives. A fresh cast offers more opportunity for the writers to fire up the show.

It’s still up in the air, but it seems likely that even if All American survives another season, not all the cast members are going to be returning, and Season 7 will have a bold look with some new drama. 

All American season 6 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.