DESIGNATED SURVIVOR - "The Enemy" - Kirkman learns who is behind the attack and needs to grapple not only with the prospect of war, but brewing domestic troubles as well. Kirkman taps Emily to monitor the domestic situation, while Alex may be in for more than she bargains for when she seeks out help from Hookstraten, on ABC's "Designated Survivor," WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT). (ABC/Sven Frenzel) Designated Survivor: Virginia Madsen Not Returning for Season 2 DESIGNATED SURVIVOR - "The Enemy" - Kirkman learns who is behind the attack and needs to grapple not only with the prospect of war, but brewing domestic troubles as well. Kirkman taps Emily to monitor the domestic situation, while Alex may be in for more than she bargains for when she seeks out help from Hookstraten, on ABC's "Designated Survivor," WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT). (ABC/Sven Frenzel)

Designated Survivor: Virginia Madsen Not Returning for Season 2

Ashley Bissette Sumerel Designated Survivor, News

Virginia Madsen won’t be back for Designated Survivor Season 2.

The actress, who plays Kimble Hookstraten on the series, said on Twitter that she would not be returning to the show next season. Talk about a disappointment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network confirmed the news on Thursday.

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR - "The Enemy" - Kirkman learns who is behind the attack and needs to grapple not only with the prospect of war, but brewing domestic troubles as well. Kirkman taps Emily to monitor the domestic situation, while Alex may be in for more than she bargains for when she seeks out help from Hookstraten, on ABC's "Designated Survivor," WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT). (ABC/Sven Frenzel)
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR –  (ABC/Sven Frenzel) VIRGINIA MADSEN

Hookstraten kept President Tom Kirkman, played by Kiefer Sutherland, on his toes for much of the show’s first season.

At the end of Season 1, Hookstraten accepted a position as Secretary of Education, though she’d been hoping to step in as Vice President.

Madsen is willing to return to the role if given the chance, as she made clear in a reply to a fan on Twitter. “Well you never know. Perhaps I will be resurrected. I hope so!” she stated.

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR - "The Mission" - Realizing his attempts at diplomacy with Algeria have failed, President Kirkman makes the difficult decision of sending Navy SEALs on a mission that will define his presidency. Meanwhile, as the investigation into the Capitol bombing continues, Agent Hannah Wells discovers more secrets than answers, on ABC's "Designated Survivor," WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT). (ABC/Ben Mark Holzberg)
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR – (ABC/Ben Mark Holzberg) VIRGINIA MADSEN, KIEFER SUTHERLAND

“It was a great role. I was loving it,” Madsen said in a reply to another disappointed fan.

And to another: “I guess they had other stories to tell. It’s a big show so I wish them well. But I would like return to kick some ass.”

Perhaps we’ll see Madsen return to kick some ass in a later season.

What do you think about the news? Are you looking forward to Designated Survivor Season 2? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Designated Survivor returns this fall to ABC.

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Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.