The Good Doctor Season 5 Release Date, Cast, And Plot - What We Know So Far

"The Good Doctor" is a medical drama on ABC based on the South Korean award-winning series, "Good Doctor." The ABC series stars Freddie Highmore, who many will recognize from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Bates Motel," as Dr. Shaun Murphy. At the beginning of Season 1, Shaun is around 26 years old and a young, talented surgeon who starts working at to the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. While he has almost photographic memory and is extremely intelligent, Shaun faces social challenges while going through life with autism spectrum disorder.

Alongside Highmore, "The Good Doctor" stars Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne, Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews, and Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman, president of the hospital and a mentor to Shaun. After it first premiered, "The Good Doctor" was extremely well-received by critics, with Highmore receiving a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. Since then, the series has had four seasons, and a fifth is officially on the way.

For everyone patiently waiting for more "The Good Doctor" episodes, here's what we know about Season 5.

Updated August 25, 2021: This list has been updated to include new casting information, an official release date, and some new information about the upcoming plot.

Fortunately for fans of "The Good Doctor," ABC has officially renewed the medical drama for a fifth season (via Variety). The show has had continued success throughout its run so far, so it's no surprise that ABC wants to keep it going. Along with "The Good Doctor," ABC handed out renewals for the long-running series "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Goldbergs," along with rookie crime drama "Big Sky." 

As for when Season 5 might be coming, passed seasons have premiered in September, and despite the plague of COVID-19, Season 5 is officially keeping to schedule. ABC has confirmed that the next set of episodes will premiere on September 27 at 10 p.m. Eastern. The show does not appear to have been seriously impacted by the effects of the pandemic, and should continue to anchor the alphabet network's fall lineup. Get ready for more San Jose St. Bonaventure drama.

As a long-running series, "The Good Doctor" has a group of main characters who are expected to continue on. This includes Highmore as Shaun, as expected, along with Schiff and Harper, while regular cast member Thomas is finishing out her run on the series and will be leaving after Season 4. Other cast members that are likely to return in Season 5 are Christina Chang, Will Yun Lee, Fiona Gubelmann, Paige Spara, Sheila Kelley, Brian Marc, Bria Henderson, and Noah Galvin. This is subject to change at any time, depending on the decision of "The Good Doctor" team or the actors to continue on with certain characters.

Along with the cast of returning characters, "The Good Doctor" Season 5 will probably feature a handful of new faces, both in supporting and guest roles. In just Season 4, "The Good Doctor" features Elizabeth Mitchell from "Lost," "Suicide Squad" actor Adam Beach, Lochlyn Munro from "Riverdale," and Lindsey Craft from "Grace and Frankie." The list of guest actors is long and winding, as the main characters meet many various patients and other people on the show. Deadline is now reporting that Osvaldo Benavides will be joining the cast as a series regular, and that Rachel Bay Jones ("Dear Evan Hansen") is on board in a recurring capacity, suggesting she might be one of said patients. 

Expect more casting surprises when Season 5 premieres.

A lot of "The Good Doctor" Season 4 focuses on Shaun and his first serious relationship with his girlfriend, Lea (Spara). Things have been going relatively well, with the pair successfully navigating all the challenges of a romantic relationship. Then Lea drops a bomb on Shaun, announcing that she's pregnant. Unfortunately, the couple goes through a lot over the course of the season, and by the finale, the two's relationship is at its breaking point as they grieve the loss of their baby from a miscarriage, and Lea considers moving back with her parents.

Elsewhere, Claire (Thomas) and Lim (Chang) learn to trust one another, as Lim deals with PTSD and possibly going to therapy. They travel to Guatemala to help out for 10 days, along with a group that includes Shaun, Lea, and a few more. While there, Lim makes a significant connection with a man at the hospital, Dr. Mateo Rendón Osma (Osvaldo Benavides), while Andrew reflects on his marital issues. After packing up to leave, Lea changes her mind and decides to stay with Shaun, leading the couple to get engaged. Still, this fantastic news is offset by a sad goodbye, as Claire decides to stay on as a staff doctor in Guatemala. 

Despite the farewell of a major cast member, Season 4 sets up many major storylines and character development for Season 5, and fans are likely very excited to see where things go with Shaun and Lea, Lim and Osma, and more of the characters. Throughout its long run, "The Good Doctor" has been unafraid to address difficult topics through its episodes, in tune with how the show brings new representation with its focus on a main character living with a disability. In Season 4, the show takes on coronavirus, racist bias at hospitals, and similar topical issues, and fans should expect similar stories in Season 5.

If you're dying for a peek, Christina Chang has a non-spoilery backstage image up on her Instagram. Now that should hold you over.