All American Season 7's Rumored Casting Plan Would Be A Massive Risk After 6 Years

Summary All American season 7 may feature an entirely new cast, marking a risky move by the show and network.

The season 6 finale could bring closure to characters' stories, potentially paving the way for a new cast (if The CW renews All American).

History shows that TV shows rarely succeed after a complete cast overhaul, putting All American at risk.

Rumors regarding what the cast will look like for a potential seventh season of All American are shocking, to say the least, and if they are true, future episodes of the television show will never be the same. The CW sports drama series, created by April Blair, is based on the life of former professional football player Spencer Paysinger before he made it to the NFL. Of course, All American takes many creative liberties when adapting Paysinger's real story, but Daniel Ezra's Spencer exhibits many of the real-life linebacker's qualities and circumstances. Consequently, All American without Spencer seems unthinkable.

New episodes of All American season 6 air on Mondays at 8 pm ET on The CW.

Over the course of All American, the show has undergone a handful of casting changes, with Taye Diggs' Coach Billy Baker dying in season 5, Hunter Clowdus exiting his role as JJ Parker after season 5, Spence Moore II's Chris Jackson leaving following season 4, and more. However, for the most part, the cast of All American has relatively stayed the same since the series first premiered in 2018. If the CW renews the show for season 7, though, reports claim that will not be the case for much longer.

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All American Season 7 Introducing A New Cast Would Be A Massive Risk

Rumors Claim Season 7 Could Feature An Entire New Cast

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Rumors suggest that All American season 7 could feature an almost entirely new cast (if The CW greenlights it), which would be one of the biggest risks the show has ever taken. Fans would have to say goodbye to the likes of Spencer, Jordan, Olivia, Layla, Coop, and everyone else who has been there since the beginning during the season 6 finale. Then, the viewers would be introduced to a new set of characters in the season 7 premiere, as the sports drama would likely undergo a reset if the rumors prove to be true.

All American Season 6 Cast Role Daniel Ezra Spencer James Bre-Z Tamia "Coop" Cooper Greta Onieogou Layla Keating Michael Evans Behling Jordan Baker Samantha Logan Olivia Baker Cody Christian Asher Adams Karimah Westbrook Grace James Jalyn Hall Dillon James Monét Mazur Laura Fine-Baker Chelsea Tavares Patience Robinson

The new cast of All American would likely feature younger actors and actresses playing teenagers in high school, including star football players, of course. While The CW has yet to confirm this game-changing rumor (or confirm season 7 for that matter), The CW’s President of Entertainment, Brad Schwartz, addressed the speculation while speaking with TVLine. Schwartz said:

"[Co-Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll] has a bunch of stories to tell [in All American season 6] and I think, naturally, some of those stories are coming to an end. We have Spencer going into the draft, there are some romantic chapters [that could] close… I think the natural storytelling is leading some of the very big arcs [to a possible conclusion]."

Schwartz's comments certainly fuel the reports of All American season 7 having an all-new cast since he explained that the season 6 finale (which he also revealed could double as a series finale) would give closure to many characters' stories and several overarching plotlines. However, Schwartz's response could also indicate that The CW is leaning towards canceling All American, forgoing a seventh season. Only time will tell what the network's plans are for the series, but if the cast undergoes a complete overhaul in season 7, The CW would be throwing a Hail Mary by taking a massive risk.

Why All American's Cast Overhaul After Season 6 Could Happen

The Season 6 Ending Could Bring Closure To The Characters' Stories

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As The CW’s President of Entertainment, Brad Schwartz, pointed out while speaking with TVLine, multiple characters' narratives (whether romantic or personal) are coming to a natural end in All American season 6. So, the producers bringing in a new cast to tell different stories in season 7 is quite feasible. By the time the All American season 6 finale rolls around (on July 15, 2024), all the characters could be in different places in their lives (both physically and metaphorically), giving closure to the story the writers began telling in the pilot episode.

It seems as though every All American character is growing up and moving on, and if season 6 ends with Spencer and/or Jordan drafted into the NFL, it would be pointless to continue the show with these characters.

Spencer and Jordan have been preparing for the NFL draft (while focusing on making it to the national championship game), while Olivia is taking a big step in her career by writing her father's biography. Plus, Jordan and Layla are planning a wedding (despite encountering some obstacles) and Asher is raising a baby. It seems as though every All American character is growing up and moving on, and if season 6 ends with Spencer and/or Jordan drafted into the NFL, it would be pointless to continue the show with these characters (and instead start anew with a younger cast).

Related How Billy Baker Is Returning In All American Season 6 (Despite His Season 5 Death) Though Billy Baker was killed in a devastating moment during season 5 of All American, there are still ways that he is able to return in season 6.

A TV Show Reinventing Its Cast Rarely Goes Well

History Isn't On All American's Side

Unfortunately for All American, cast overhauls on television shows hardly go well and frequently turn out to be bad decisions that end in cancelations. Of course, some of the outliers are Doctor Who, Days of Our Lives, and Degrassi. However, those series were made to filter through new casts, while others weren't.

According to Brad Schwartz, The CW is waiting for All American season 6's ratings results to determine if they will renew or cancel it.

For example, MTV's Scream reinvented its cast in season 3, but it didn't work, and the show quickly came to an end. Once Upon a Time also featured several new cast members in its seventh season, but many agree it's the show's worst season and ABC canceled it. So, if The CW renews All American and season 7 introduces a completely new cast, the odds are not in its favor.

All American Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available This sports drama, inspired by the real-life journey of football player Spencer Paysinger, follows a high school student from south L.A. when he is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High. Cast Samantha Logan , Cody Christian , Monet Mazur , Taye Diggs , Jalyn Hall Release Date October 10, 2018 Seasons 6 Network The CW Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll

Source: TVLine