Amanda Brugel is leveling up.
The Handmaid’s Tale alum, who originally joined Dark Matter in a recurring role, is now officially a series regular for Season 2 of the Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller.
Adapted from Blake Crouch’s best-selling novel, Dark Matter dives deep into the multiverse, following physicist Jason Dessen (played by Joel Edgerton), who’s living a pretty normal life—until one night, he’s snatched off the streets of Chicago and dropped into an alternate version of his own reality. From there, it’s a mind-bending ride through versions of the life he could have lived. The twist? His biggest threat isn’t a villain in a cape—it’s himself.
Brugel plays Blaire, the close friend of Daniella (played by Jennifer Connelly), and first appeared in Season 1 in a recurring capacity. With Season 2 on the horizon, her character is getting a well-deserved upgrade. It’s giving “she understood the assignment” energy.
She joins an already stacked cast that includes Alice Braga, Oakes Fegley, Dayo Okeniyi, and Jimmi Simpson. Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley) is also hopping on board for the new season, though details about his character are still hush-hush.
Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly not only lead the cast but also serve as executive producers. Blake Crouch—who wrote the novel—is back as showrunner and co-writer, alongside Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry (Little Fires Everywhere), who also steps in as co-showrunner for Season 2.
The complete first season is now streaming globally on Apple TV+, so if you haven’t tapped in yet—this is your cue.
Brugel, known for her fierce portrayal of Rita Blue in The Handmaid’s Tale, spent five seasons in Gilead and racked up four SAG Award nominations for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series. She’s returning to wrap up the dystopian saga in its sixth and final season, premiering April 8.
And that’s not all on her slate. She’s starring in Nika & Madison (directed by Eva Thomas), and her film Sweetness recently made its premiere at SXSW. You’ll also catch her in upcoming Canadian features Ballistic and Dancing on the Elephant. She’s repped by The Arthur Agency and LINK Entertainment.
As for Diamantopoulos, he’s got range for days. He’ll next appear in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf for Prime Video alongside Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch. Whether you know him as tech bro Russ from Silicon Valley, a classic Moe in The Three Stooges, or the twisted Sotto Voce in Red Notice, he’s always keeping it interesting. He’s also lent his voice to a slew of animated hits—Invincible, Blood of Zeus, and Beavis and Butt-Head, to name a few—and he’s even voiced Mickey Mouse (yes, that Mickey), earning two Emmy nods in the process. He’s repped by Paradigm, Untitled, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.
Let’s just say Season 2 of Dark Matter is shaping up to be even more twisted—and we’re here for every reality-jumping second.