There is good news and bad news as regards HBO's acclaimed tech-world-skewering comedy Silicon Valley. The good news is that, with Season 4 currently unfolding on HBO and garnering the usual strong reviews, the network has announced that the show will be returning for a fifth season. Considering how strong the show continues to be, it's no surprise that HBO wants to keep it on the schedule for at least one more year.
Now for the the bad news: one of Silicon Valley's breakout stars will not be along for the ride when the show comes back for Season 5, and the loss of this particular actor will open up a big gaping hole in the show's dynamic ensemble.
As reported by Variety, HBO and T.J. Miller have decided together that Miller will be exiting Silicon Valley at the end of Season 4. HBO said in a statement:
“The producers of Silicon Valley and T.J. Miller have mutually agreed that T.J. will not return for season 5. In Erlich Bachman, T.J. has brought to life an unforgettable character, and while his presence on the show will be missed, we appreciate his contribution and look forward to future collaborations.”
Miller is currently working on a wide array of projects outside of Silicon Valley, including Deadpool 2 (where he will reprise the role of Weasel) and the Steven Spielberg VR adventure movie Ready Player One, where he plays a video game warrior modeled after Boba Fett. Miller is also working on the thriller Underwater alongside Kristen Stewart, in addition to voicing the lead role in the upcoming animated film The Emoji Movie and playing a voice role in How to Train Your Dragon 3. In addition to those jobs, Miller is also squeezing in a role in the film Walden, described as a Western re-imagining of Henry David Thoreau's classic.
Considering how hot T.J. Miller obviously is right now, and the fact that his asking price likely skyrocketed as a result of this heat, it's probably not a surprise that he and HBO were unable to come to an agreement on his continued participation in Silicon Valley. Trying to imagine the show without Erlich Bachman and his arrogant bluster (not to mention his facial hair) is difficult but the remaining ensemble is strong enough to carry things forward, and of course Mike Judge and his writers are still some of the best around.
It will be interesting to see how Silicon Valley handles the departure of Erlich Bachman later in Season 4. Will Mike Judge concoct some memorable departure for the character or will he be unceremoniously dumped? Bachman deserves a fitting send-off, but what hilarious form that might take is anyone's guess.
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Source: Variety
