‘Leverage: Redemption’: Will Mark Sheppard’s Sterling Be in the Revival?
With the first eight episodes of Leverage: Redemption, out now on IMDb TV, we’ve loved every single callback to the original series. But we can’t help but wonder about some missing familiar faces, especially Mark Sheppard’s James Sterling.
“Sterling does not join us in these 16 because his character was really tied to the Nate Ford [Timothy Hutton] storyline,” executive producer Dean Devlin tells TV Insider. So while there are some “fun” guest stars still ahead — the first half of the season included appearances from French Stewart, Andrea Navedo, Dan Cortese, Kim Matula, and Joey Slotnick — “it didn’t really make sense to bring him back yet.”
In the original series, which aired five seasons on TNT from 2008 to 2012, Sterling worked for the same insurance firm as the late Nate Ford (the Mastermind) and later Interpol and was generally a thorn in the entire crew’s side, even when he needed their help, like in “The Queen’s Gambit Job.” (If you enjoyed Christian Kane’s Eliot Spencer and Sterling’s scenes together in that episode, you’re not alone; Devlin did, too.)
The good news is that while we may not see Sterling in the eight episodes out now or the eight still to come in the fall, Devlin isn’t looking at this as a one-season-and-done revival. “This is a show that we really only see ourselves doing maybe 25 more seasons, and then after that, we want to call it quits,” the executive producer says. “So I guess that’s my way of saying there are so many stories I want to tell in the Leverage universe that I don’t think we’d ever run out.”
And who knows, maybe a return from Sterling could be in one of those stories. After all, Sterling was in the original run’s series finale, which saw the crew successfully take the Black Book. (It’s the record of those who got their money out when the financial system crashed, the “holy grail of the ones who got away with it,” as Sterling called it.) And while it won’t be part of these 16 episodes, “it would definitely come up if we get more episodes,” Devlin promises.
Erik Heinila/©TNT/courtesy Everett Collection
Leverage: Redemption, Part 1, Streaming Now, IMDb TV
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C
I absolutely LOVE the original. The reboot is charming, but Alec being away is glaringly obvious, considering we can't have Nate.
I hope to see him more as the show progresses.
Yes, I will be tuning in!
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C
25 more years of LEVERAGE is a great start !!!!!!
So happy it is back finally
Our favorite show of all time !!!!!!
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B
I'm fine with Sterling not returning. Didn't care for that character at all. I know Hodges is booked but hope he returns when new episodes drop.
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G
I adored the original series and so far the revival is living up to its roots. I binge watched the first right episodes and can't wait for the rest of the season to drop. I do want to see more of Hardison and Parker together.Also it would be nice to give Eliot a girlfriend.
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O
Enjoyed part 1. Missed Hardison but Breanna was refreshing.
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B
Is there anyway you can bring back Nate? Please look to see. I really miss his roll in this show. I know you can do it.
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O
This is just a fun show to watch. So glad it was picked up for another season.
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R
That is the NCIS NOLA set. Another great show.
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R
I have been enjoying watching the original series over and over again on 'FreeVee' ,(previously IMDb TV). When you find an outstanding show you just can't get enough.
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R
In 'The Queen's Gambit' it doesn't make sense for Eliot to accept anything to eat or drink from Sterling. You can never trust Sterling.
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K
I enjoyed the reboot. I missed Hardison too, but, his absence was explained well, though in a way that you kind of hope that the team joins him with his stuff. I mean, it might be a way for the team to keep Sophie rolled in that its not a traditional Leverage job they are doing (since she was saying she'd retire again by the end, but the team is not aware of that just yet). And while I don't know if they have done filming for the second half yet, they could be done with Black Adam filming by then. But if not, they tend to end half seasons or seasons with someone being in trouble, that the team has to go save him would make sense.
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C
I waited till Friday evening to watch the 1st 2 episodes with my son, a big fan like me, and the wait was worth it. I don't get tire of Leverage, I've seen every episode about 10 times, except the one that almost end in Plan M. We found odd that Nate's tombstone had no dates(?) The new additions 'click' really well with the team. Lastly the new headquarters look like the old set of NCIS:NOLA.
WELCOME BACK TO OUR FAVORITE BAD GUYS!
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P
Bad actor with mostly a filler character don't need his return.
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