Reneé Rapp is officially trading the stage for the soundstage. The Grammy-nominated singer and actress has joined the cast of Apple TV’s “The Morning Show” for its upcoming fifth season in a major recurring role. According to exclusive reporting from Deadline, Rapp will play Samantha, described as a young rising star in the UBN news division who is determined to make it in media on her own terms. The casting marks her first television role since stepping away from screen acting to focus on her exploding music career.
For fans who have followed Rapp since her breakout on HBO Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” this news is a welcome homecoming. Rapp left the Mindy Kaling-created series after its second season to dedicate herself entirely to music, releasing two critically acclaimed albums and touring extensively. The decision led many to wonder whether she would ever return to acting a, a question now definitively answered. Her screen career launched with remarkable speed, landing two major credits in rapid succession: a lead role on “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and starring as Regina George in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Mean Girls,” a role she originated on stage.
Rapp’s new role places her alongside one of the most stacked casts on television. She will star opposite series leads and executive producers Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, as well as returning cast members Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Nicole Beharie, and Jon Hamm . The fifth season is already shaping up to be the show’s most ambitious yet, with recent additions including Jeff Daniels as Lukas, a self-made billionaire and founder of an investment firm, and Jesse Williams as Vernon, UBN’s new Head of News described as a “brash pot-stirrer”.
“The Morning Show,” which hails from television studio Media Res, continues to explore the high-stakes world of broadcast journalism with Charlotte Stoudt serving as showrunner and executive producer and Mimi Leder directing and executive producing . Season four took place in spring 2024, almost two years after the events of season three, with the newsroom grappling with the completed UBA-NBN merger and navigating a world rife with deepfakes, conspiracy theories, and corporate cover-ups . Season five promises to continue exploring these themes with Rapp’s character Samantha positioned as a fresh face determined to carve her own path in this chaotic landscape.
Rapp’s casting signals a significant shift in her career trajectory after years of focusing entirely on music. During her time away from acting, she built a substantial fanbase as a recording artist and live performer, headlining tours and releasing projects that showcased her powerhouse vocals . Now, she’ll bring that star power back to television, working opposite industry veterans in one of streaming’s most prestigious dramas. Apple has not yet announced a premiere date for season five of the Emmy-winning series, which has been a cornerstone of the streamer’s original programming since its 2019 launch .
