British Columbia provincial chief health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said: “It’s more and more [unlikely] that we’re going to be able to get back to full normal life… before at least the summer, and then we need to start preparing ourselves for the potential of a second wave in the fall.”
The Good Doctor usually starts filming in mid-June and airs three months later in mid-September. As such, if the show cannot film until late summer, we may not see new episodes until November. If production is delayed into the fall, it is likely we will not get new Season 4 of the ABC series until 2021.
The Freddie Highmore show, which this week aired its Season 3 finale, may particularly prone to delays. Other shows have had to end their seasons early, and so have a number of episodes already written and ready to use. But because The Good Doctor starts filming so early, the season had completed filming before the Vancouver studios were closed due to coronavirus. This means that they do not have a reserve of written episodes ready to film.
However, some shows are currently writing their next seasons in digital writer rooms, while others are splitting their writers into smaller groups so staff can practice social distancing. These are two options that The Good Doctor could use to make sure it has a number of episodes ready to film as soon as the studios of Canada re-open.
The Good Doctor Season 4 was officially ordered in February 2020, with ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke calling the show a “breakout hit.” She also said: “The Good Doctor has been a cornerstone on Monday nights and is one of those special heartfelt series that fearlessly tackles inclusivity.”
When The Good Doctor Season 4 does start filming, the ABC series will be without two of its cast members. After the events of the Season 3, Nicholas Gonzalez will not be returning as Dr. Neil Melendez, while Jasika Nicole will also no longer be appearing in the main cast as Dr. Carly Lever—though showrunner David Shore said she could make some appearances in the future.
