Natasha Lyonne On Poker Face’s Next Chapter — And Why Peter Dinklage Stepped In For Her
Natasha Lyonne finally breaks her silence on Poker Face’s Peacock cancellation, confirming she won’t return as lead sleuth Charlie Cale if a third season moves forward, weighing in on Peter Dinklage stepping in, and teasing what the mystery comedy’s future could look like.
Natasha Lyonne finally said out loud what a lot of fans suspected: Peacock canceled Poker Face, and if the show pops up somewhere else for Season 3, she won't be the one behind the wheel. The baton would go to Peter Dinklage. Here's how we got here, what that means, and what Lyonne is doing next.
They saw it coming while making Season 2
Lyonne told THR the team knew cancellation was looming even as they were shooting Season 2. Which explains why she and creator Rian Johnson teamed up to direct the finale, handily titled The End of the Road. Not subtle. They literally send the car off a cliff. Lyonne also laughed about tossing her dog, Root Beer, into the shot at the last second. The pup is 15, but she joked he looks like a 1-year-old thanks to extensive plastic surgery. The vibe here: they were closing a chapter, and they knew it.
"For me, baby's gotta direct some movies."
So why is Dinklage stepping in?
If Poker Face finds a new home and makes a third season, Peter Dinklage would lead it. That's not a hostile takeover; Lyonne is still on the show as an executive producer and is actively involved in the process of shopping it around. She says she adores Dinklage as both a performer and a person, and honestly, hard to argue with that casting swing. It's different, which is the point.
Lyonne's next moves
She's pivoting to features after spending a ton of time writing and directing TV. And she's busy with a new Sky series with Matt Berry called Force & Majeure, which she describes as a retro sci-fi thing. She's in that writers room now finishing the finale, with filming set for September.
Quick refresher on Poker Face
Rian Johnson created, wrote, and directed the show as his first TV project, with Tony Tost as showrunner. Lyonne played Charlie Cale, a human lie detector with a knack for stumbling into murders, across two seasons. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Season 2 stacked the guest stars: Cynthia Erivo, John Mulaney, Simon Rex, Giancarlo Esposito, John Cho, Awkwafina, Method Man, Ego Nwodim, Kumail Nanjiani, Melanie Lynskey, Taylor Schilling, Katie Holmes, Alia Shawkat, and more.
The state of play right now
- Peacock canceled Poker Face, a move the creative team expected while making Season 2.
- Lyonne and Rian Johnson co-directed the finale, The End of the Road, designed to work as a capper.
- Peter Dinklage would lead a potential Season 3 if the show lands at a new outlet.
- Lyonne will stay on as an executive producer and is helping shop the series.
- She's stepping away from starring to focus on directing films and her Sky series with Matt Berry, Force & Majeure, which shoots in September.
- Lyonne's run as Charlie Cale earned her Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.