Here's your full cast and character guide for The Expanse season 5. Fresh from a successful debut on Amazon Prime, The Expanse quickly set about filming its next run, based on the Nemesis Games novel. The fifth season of the widely-acclaimed sci-fi series narrowly avoided falling victim to COVID-19 lockdown measures, wrapping shortly before many other TV productions were halted. Since then, The Expanse has been commissioned for one final season at Amazon, and excitement is continuing to build ahead of the Rocinante's return.
As revealed by the trailer, The Expanse season 5 picks up with Marco Inaros rapidly establishing himself as a major new villain. The fragile peace between Earth, Mars and the Belt is at risk, and the threat of the Protomolecule (and the mysterious alien race responsible for destroying its creators) still lingers in the background. In short, there are plenty of problems for Holden to solve.
With The Expanse's central quartet heading in separate directions, season 5 diversifies more than ever before. Not only does this mean plenty of familiar faces returning, but there will also be some significant character additions in the episodes to come. This is who you can expect to meet as The Expanse season 5 takes off.
José Zúñiga as Bull
Bull is a Belter introduced in the third installment of the Expanse book series, but the character makes his live-action debut in season 5, played by José Zúñiga. Bull is head of security operations, working under Fred Johnson at Tycho Station when The Expanse season 5 begins. Elements of Bull's arc have already been adapted for Camina Drummer on TV, so Zúñiga's character will likely be different compared to his written counterpart. Zúñiga has previously been in Agents of SHIELD, Mission: Impossible III and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Sandrine Holt as Oksana
The Expanse season 5 introduces Oksana, a Belter who plays an important role in Camina Drummer's story, as she starts a new life aboard an OPA pirate vessel. Among all of Drummer's new crew mates, she seems closest to Oksana but, in the books, Oksana is part of Michio Pa's group. Sandrine Holt can be found in Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and she also portrayed Gillian in House of Cards.
Brent Sexton as Cyn
Cyn is another new Belter addition to The Expanse season 5, and finds himself under the employ of Marco Inaros' Free Navy. Like Marco, Cyn is familiar with Naomi Nagata from her days in the OPA, and while the character was briefly mentioned in a previous season, The Expanse season 5 marks his first appearance proper. Like Oksana, Cyn is a supporting figure in the original Expanse novels. Brent Sexton played Harry Manning in Deadwood and Stan Larsen in The Killing.
Bahia Watson as Sakai
As the chief engineer on Tycho Station, Sakai is responsible for fixing up the Rocinante following the ship's close shave on Ilus, and her character is a gender-flip of William Sakai, who occupied the same role in the novels. Sakai will be played by Bahia Watson in The Expanse season 5, who's best known for her recent work on The Handmaid's Tale (playing Brianna) and Star Trek: Discovery (playing May, an alien construct inhabiting the mind of Sylvia Tilly).
Michael Irby as Admiral Delgado
Michael Irby joins The Expanse season 5 as the UN's Admiral Delgado. Irby is perhaps most famous for portraying Bishop in Mayans M.C., and he also played Detective Elvis Ilinca in True Detective. As a high-ranking name in the UN, Delgado works directly under the new Secretary General, Nancy Gao, but with Chrisjen Avasarala desperately in need of allies to fight back against Marco Inaros, the Admiral could have his head turned.
Steven Strait as James Holden
The central protagonist of The Expanse, James Holden has been the story's reluctant hero ever since being nominated captain of the Rocinante, constantly finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. In season 5, Holden is based on Tycho Station, investigating a series of suspicious activities that could be linked to the trouble in the Belt. Steven Strait has portrayed Holden since The Expanse began and also serves as a producer on the series. He's set to play KISS' modest bass player, Gene Simmons, in the upcoming Spinning Gold biopic.
Dominique Tipper as Naomi Nagata
Naomi's relationship with Holden is still going strong when The Expanse season 5 begins, but as Marco Inaros' name spreads across the galaxy, she can no longer stand idly by while her son becomes a wanted terrorist. Setting out on a hunt for Filip and motherly redemption, Naomi will no doubt be forced to face past demons in The Expanse season 5. Dominique Tipper played an unnamed Auror in Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them.
Wes Chatham as Amos Burton
Like Naomi, Amos has his own business to attend to in The Expanse season 5, returning to his home city of Baltimore on Earth. Despite arriving with the best of intentions, Amos is caught up in another major event in the ongoing battle for system supremacy. The Expanse is set to provide more insight into Amos' character than ever before in season 5. Aside from being the Rocinante's mechanic/muscle, Wes Chatham will be familiar as Castor from the Hunger Games franchise.
Cas Anvar as Alex Kamal
Due to allegations of harassment and misconduct, Cas Anvar will not return as Alex Kamal in The Expanse season 6. Filming on season 5 was already complete when the accusations emerged.
Keon Alexander as Marco Inaros
Keon Alexander made his debut as Marco Inaros in The Expanse season 4, but was still building his forces and biding his time, yet to stake his claim. Season 5 sees Marco come to prominence as the leader of the Free Navy, an extremist offshoot of the OPA. At the end of last season, Marco launched a stealth attack on Earth, combining asteroids with Martian technology to avoid detection. Keon Alexander has previously appeared in Tyrant and Impulse.
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala
The Expanse's Chrisjen Avasarala is somewhat changed from the original books, although many fans claim to prefer Shohreh Aghdashloo's iteration of the character. Avasarala is in unfamiliar territory when The Expanse season 5 begins, having been ousted from the UN's top job and losing the support of her husband. Thanks to Bobbie, however, she knows another big conspiracy is lurking, and it's not in Avasarala's nature to let a hunch go unaddressed. Ashgashloo appeared in Star Trek: Beyond (playing Avasarala 2.0, more or less), and also portrayed Dina Araz in 24.
Frankie Adams as Bobbie Draper
Another character improved in live-action is Frankie Adams' Bobbie Draper. Once loyal to a fault, Bobbie's adventures with the Rocinante crew have opened her eyes to the truth of Mars, and having been dishonorably discharged from the marine corps. is now poking her nose into a shady smuggling operation. Draper's arc will overlap with both Alex and Avasarala in The Expanse season 5. Frankie Adams can be seen in Mortal Engines playing Yasmina.
Cara Gee as Camina Drummer
Camina Drummer's role has been expanded considerably from the original Expanse books, with Cara Gee's character taking cues from Michio Pa and various others over past seasons. Drummer quit working alongside Fred Johnson in The Expanse season 4, and she's now striking out with her own crew of Belters, still grieving the loss of Klaes Ashford. Cara Gee enjoyed a long-running role in Strange Empire, but more recently starred alongside a lovable doggo (and Harrison Ford) in Call of the Wild.
Other Characters In The Expanse Season 5
George Tchortov as Leveau - One of Fred Johnson's high-ranking Belters and a TV-original character. Tchortov is better known as a stuntman.
Oluniké Adeliyi as Karal - One of Marco's more prominent associates and a friend to Cyn. Adeliyi will appear in the upcoming Chaos Walking.
Vanessa Smythe as Michio - Smythe's character is listed as "Michio" on IMDB, which is a clear nod to the books' Michio Pa character. Although Drummer has effectively stolen Michio's arc, this character is among her crew in The Expanse season 5.
Samer Salem as Josep - Samer Salem plays another member of Drummer's pirate swingers. The actor recently appeared in The Boys as an short-lived super-terrorist called Naqib.
Wilex Ly as Serge - A minor character from the Expanse books, Wilex Ly recently appeared in I'm Not Racist But...
Stephen Tracey as Bertold - The final member of Drummer's crew, Tracey starred as Mr. Phillips in Anne With An E.
Jacob Mundell as Erich - A key figure from Amos' past on Earth, Erich can unlock many secrets.
Tim DeKay as Admiral Sauveterre - A high-ranking Martian who becomes embroiled in Bobbie's investigation. DeKay starred as Peter Burke in White Collar.
Lara Jean Chorostecki as Emily - Sauveterre's aide, Lt. Babbage. Lara Jean Chorostecki can be seen in Designated Survivor and the Hannibal TV series.
Frankie Faison as Charles - In a neat Baltimore connection, Frankie Faison of The Wire will play Charles, who is seen talking to Amos in The Expanse season 5's trailer.
Stacey Roca as Lydia - Another key figure in Amos' past. Appears in flashbacks.
Chad L. Coleman as Fred Johnson - A recurring character in The Expanse, Fred Johnson will appear more regularly in season 5 by virtue of Holden being stationed at Tycho. Coleman is best known for playing Tyreese in The Walking Dead.
Anna Hopkins as Monica Stuart - Monica is the journalist formerly assigned to follow the Rocinante crew in The Expanse season 3. Anna Hopkins played Samantha Clayton in Arrow.
Jasai Chase Owens as Filip Inaros - After his introduction in The Expanse season 4, Naomi's son Filip will feature more prominently in season 5.
Nadine Nicole as Clarissa Mao - Also returning from The Expanse season 3 is Clarissa, who was last seen trying to kill Holden, then helping Holden, then being arrested. Mao is imprisoned on Earth when The Expanse season 5 begins.
Lily Gao as Nancy Gao - Avasarala's replacement as UN Secretary General, Nancy Gao will have a difficult first term in The Expanse season 5. Her namesake, Lily, will star in the upcoming Resident Evil movie reboot.
Also in The Expanse season 5 are: Alex Hatz as Secretary Yilmaz, Amanda Cordner as Hutch, Christine Saheley as Dahane, Joyce Rivera as Secretary Cebotari, Sugith Varughese as David Paster, Sam Kalilieh as Clarke, Natalie Brown as Rona.