Following a standout debut season, Doc is gearing up for its highly anticipated second season, set to premiere on FOX this fall. While viewers can expect the return of their favorite doctors, there’s also a major casting shakeup to get excited about.
Joining the ensemble is none other than Emmy Award-winning actress Felicity Huffman, best known for her leading role on ABC’s Desperate Housewives. Even more exciting, Huffman isn’t just making a guest appearance. She’s coming on board as a full-fledged series regular! This means she'll be appearing in most or all episodes of the upcoming season and will have a prominent role.
According to Deadline, Huffman will play a new character named Dr. Joan Ridley. Ridley is highly qualified in two medical specialties, internal medicine and surgery. She describes herself as an “old-school broad,” enjoying whiskey, Marlboro Reds, and solo steak dinners. But what really stands out about her is her connection to Dr. Amy Larsen (Molly Parker), her former student and mentee.
Their relationship is complex, built on deep respect but tinged with underlying tension. Now, as the newly appointed Chief of Internal Medicine at Westside Hospital, Ridley brings her expertise to the team. However, she also carries a secret motivation that is driving her actions.
"Double-boarded in internal medicine and surgery, she’s the kind of doctor who never has to raise her voice. Incredibly charming and charismatic with a wicked sense of humor that masks her ferocious ambition." - Deadline
Besides Desperate Housewives, Huffman is known for previously starring as Dana Whitaker in the comedy-drama series Sports Night. She also had roles in other shows like Frasier, American Crime, When They See Us, Criminal Minds: Evolution and Accused. You might have also watched her in comedy-drama film Georgia Rules and/or the Netflix comedy flick Otherhood.
With her casting in Doc season 2, Huffman joins returning series regulars Parker, Omar Metwally, Jon Ecker, Amirah Vann, and Anya Banerjee. Patrick Walker and Charlotte Fountain-Jardim, who previously appeared as recurring cast members in season 1, have also been promoted to series regulars for the upcoming season.
Doc is a medical drama series that was developed by Barbie Kligman. Kligman serves as showrunner and executive producer. The show is based on the Italian series Doc – Nelle tue mani, and centers around Dr. Amy Larsen, a respected physician who suffers a brain injury that erases the last eight years of her memory. As she returns to work at Westside Hospital, she finds herself having to navigate the challenges of practicing medicine while piecing together a life she no longer remembers.
When FOX renewed Doc for a second season back in February 2025, the network handed out a supersized 22-episode order. This is 12 episodes up from the first season, which consisted of only 10 episodes. This isn't common in the TV landscape nowadays, so this significant increase reflects FOX's strong belief in the show’s potential and popularity.
Doc season 2 does not have an official premiere date at the moment. However, new episodes will begin airing on FOX in the fall on Tuesdays at 9/8c.