WhileWill Trentwon’t return to ABC until early 2026, this is secretly good news for fans who hope to see new episodes of the show released regularly. The ABC proceduralWill Trenthas proven a huge hit with audiences, who can’t get enough of the titular GBI agent and his investigations.
While the show took some liberties with the source material,Will Trentkept author Karin Slaughter’s most important creationuntouched by ensuring that Will retained his memorable personality from the novel series. Even so, it was striking to see the series gain new viewers with each passing season, something even successful network TV shows often struggle to achieve.
ABC Delays Will Trent Season 4 Until 2026
Will Trent Won’t Return To Screens Until Next Year
Sadly,Will Trentseason 4won’t return to screens until early 2026. This is an obvious cause for dismay among the show’s online fan base, but it need not be a cause for concern. As a major hit for ABC,Will Trentisn’t in danger of cancellation anytime soon. Instead, the show is making a clever scheduling choice.
TheWill Trentseason 3 finale aired on June 16, 2025.
Will Trentseason 4’s delayed premiere means the show won’t need to have a lengthy mid-season hiatus, something that is becoming increasingly common on network TV. In the case of hits like9-11,Doctor Odyssey, and the most recent season ofGrey’s Anatomy, there were three-month breaks after the winter finale and before the latter half of the season.
Will Trent’s Delay Mean Season 4 Won’t Have A Massive Hiatus In The Middle Of The Season
A Later Return Ensures Will Trent Season 4 Won’t Be Broken In Two
Even sitcoms likeGhostsand animated shows likeBob’s BurgersandThe Simpsonshave taken to indulging in mid-season breaks, meaning it would have been no major shock ifWill Trentdid the same. Fortunately, viewers curious aboutthe fate ofWill Trent’s Ormewoodand the rest of the show’s heroes need not fret.
Yul Vazquez
Sheriff Caleb Roussard
Will Trent’s delayed return mean that, in theory, the show won’t need a long mid-season break. By making the break between seasons longer, the need for a mid-season hiatus is lessened, which explains why CBS’s proceduralWatsonis taking the same approach after a successful debut season. Both shows boast big fan bases, where mid-season hiatuses can be an issue.
Unlike sitcoms or even medical shows, procedurals likeWatsonandWill Trentusually have a season-long mystery arc that viewers are eager to solve. As such, splittingWill Trentseason 4 could annoy viewers who desperately want to solve the case, whereas simply delaying its arrival guarantees a more cohesive storyline that is less likely to irk returning fans.
