HBO has released the new photos from their highly-anticipated A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote, debuting October 15 at 12:01 AM on HBO Max.
The photos feature new looks at Martin Sheen as U.S. President Josiah Bartlet, Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn, Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg and Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman.
The photos also showcase Sterling K. Brown, who steps in to portray Leo McGarry, since original star John Spencer passed away in 2005, with Aaron Sorkin also opening up about the special in a new interview.
New pics: HBO has released the new photos from their highly-anticipated A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote, debuting October 15
The special is a re-enactment of the Season 3 episode Hartsfield’s Landing, where President Bartlet squares off in chess matches with Sam and Toby (Richard Schiff).
Simultaneously, Josh finds himself pre-occupied with the primary election in a small New England town.
Series creator Aaron Sorkin revealed in an interview the episode, ‘ends up being kind of an ode to voting.’
Re-enactment: The special is a re-enactment of the Season 3 episode Hartsfield’s Landing, where President Bartlett squares off in chess matches with Sam and Toby (Richard Schiff)
The special will also showcase the organization entitled When We All Vote, a group created to increase election participation.
The special will feature special messages during intermissions from When We All Vote co-chair Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Samuel L. Jackson and others.
While these messages will come from prominent Democrats and Democratic supporters, Sorkin insists the special will not lean left.
Vote: The special will also showcase the organization entitled When We All Vote, a group created to increase election participation
‘We are sincerely just asking people to vote. And that´s what When We All Vote is. Yes, one of its founders is Michelle Obama. But it is a nonpartisan organization,” Sorkin said.
‘At no point during this special will you hear the words “Joe Biden,” “Donald Trump,” “Democrat” or “Republican,”‘ Sorkin added.
Executive producer Casey Patterson added, ‘there are no villains’ in the special, which is meant to inspire an increase in voting across the board.
Sincere: ‘We are sincerely just asking people to vote. And that´s what When We All Vote is. Yes, one of its founders is Michelle Obama. But it is a nonpartisan organization,” Sorkin said
Also returning from the original series are Dulé Hill and Janel Moloney, with Sorkin adding that Sterling K. Brown was ‘very generous with his time’ in stepping in.
The special was filmed at a Los Angeles theater last month, with the production following strict, COVID Safe Way Forward Protocols.
For fans who don’t have HBO Max, TNT will air Friday-night marathons of The West Wing from now until the November 3 election.
Return: Also returning from the original series are Dulé Hill and Janel Moloney, with Sorkin adding that Sterling K. Brown was ‘very generous with his time’ in stepping in
Since this special will represent the first time the cast will be together in 17 years, many fans have taken to social media to reveal they’ll be staying up until midnight to watch the special.
Twitter user @GrubbsJoe stated, ‘Staying up till midnight to watch. We all could use a little Cregg, Ziegler, Lyman, Seaborn, McGarry and Bartlet in our lives right now.’
Another fan, @jjboggs, asked Bradley Whitford, ‘Is the West Wing Special dropping at midnight? I’ll totally stay up for it!’
@Susqhb asked, ‘Does anyone know what time the West Wing Special drops on @HBOMAX on Thursday? Please tell me midnight ET and not that midnight PT garbage that Hamilton puled on @DisneyPlus. Even better, surprise us with an early drop like @PrimeVideo #BartletForPresident #WestWingReunion
@JeanneJMM stated, ‘THE WEST WING #TWW special premiers tomorrow BUT! in ‘streaming time’ that means TONIGHT! It drops at midnight #HBO #WhenWeAllVote #TheWestWing.
Joe knows: Twitter user @GrubbsJoe stated, ‘Staying up till midnight to watch. We all could use a little Cregg, Ziegler, Lyman, Seaborn, McGarry and Bartlet in our lives right now’
Justin asks: Another fan, @jjboggs, asked Bradley Whitford, ‘Is the West Wing Special dropping at midnight? I’ll totally stay up for it!’
Susanne asks: @Susqhb asked, ‘Does anyone know what time the West Wing Special drops on @HBOMAX on Thursday? Please tell me midnight ET and not that midnight PT garbage that Hamilton puled on @DisneyPlus. Even better, surprise us with an early drop like @PrimeVideo #BartletForPresident #WestWingReunion
Premier: @JeanneJMM stated, ‘THE WEST WING #TWW special premiers tomorrow BUT! in ‘streaming time’ that means TONIGHT! It drops at midnight #HBO #WhenWeAllVote #TheWestWing