‘The Leftovers’ season 2 spoilers: ‘Southland’ alum Regina King signs on

We really wanted to love “The Leftovers” more than we ultimately did, largely because we’re not sure we really need to spend an hour a week being depressed out of our mind. The first season was extremely bleak, and while we definitely were not seeking answers to what happened to cause the Rapture-like event, at the same time we did want at least a little bit of something to be hopeful about. That’s what makes a series like “The Walking Dead” (in comparison) so successful: While you have characters in a situation that would make anyone living in it depressed to say the least, there are still moments of hope that help the characters and the fans want to trudge on through the misery.

It is with that in mind that we bring you to the latest bit of news today on the series. Sources confirm (via Deadline) that “Southland” alum Regina King has been cast to play the role of Erika Murphy, a doctor in the new town which will be the focus of the HBO show’s second season. We already are going to see a dramatically different landscape for the series than what we had during season 1. For example, the show is shifting all the way from New York to Texas, and only a select number of cast members are going to be joining them (including Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, and Christopher Eccleston).

The next season will most-likely premiere on the network later this fall and as of right now, the show has not even begun production. This is different to how they scheduled it last year, when the show premiered during the summer and gave us the last season of “True Blood.”

While King is a great addition to the series, there is still much work to be done when it comes to making this show appealing to fans again. Give us a little bit of hope!

What do you think about King’s addition to the show? Share with a comment, and head over here to get some other news related to the show. Also, be sure to sign up right away to get some never-leftover TV news on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: HBO.)