After seven emotionally rich seasons, The Good Doctor has officially closed its doors, concluding the remarkable journey of Dr. Shaun Murphy — and immediately marking the beginning of a new chapter for its leading star, Freddie Highmore. As the series wrapped, fans expected the actor to take a well-earned break. Instead, Highmore is returning to television sooner than anticipated, stepping into a dramatically different role in the upcoming AMC+ thriller The Assassin, premiering November 20, 2025.

But before looking ahead, the end of The Good Doctor continues to spark conversation. Following the broadcast of the final season, the production team — including longtime showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman — openly reflected on the creative decision behind closing the series. They admitted that they once had a long list of potential storylines for future seasons. Character arcs, medical dilemmas, and emotional developments were still on the table. Yet the creators ultimately agreed that it was more important for the show to end with intention than to simply extend its run.

According to Shore and Friedman, delivering a finale that felt complete, honest, and emotionally coherent was the priority. They wanted Shaun Murphy’s story to conclude at a moment where his growth — both as a surgeon and as a human being — could be fully celebrated. Ending the show on their own terms allowed them to craft a farewell that honored the character, the cast, and the audience who had followed the young doctor’s journey since 2017.

The finale itself highlighted that growth beautifully. Shaun, portrayed with characteristic nuance by Freddie Highmore, faced some of the most transformative moments of his life. His final chapter showed a man who had weathered loss, embraced love, and learned to navigate a complex world with confidence and compassion. It was a deeply human conclusion — one that balanced emotional closure with hope for the future.

And now, that future is arriving quickly for Highmore. In The Assassin, the actor takes on Edward, the estranged son of a former contract killer who is thrust into a dangerous search for truth when his mother’s past resurfaces. The role is a stark departure from the gentle, brilliant Shaun Murphy — a shift that has generated intense curiosity among fans.

In The Assassin, Highmore embodies a character shaped by secrets, emotional fragmentation, and moral ambiguity. The psychological weight of the role, paired with the thriller’s darker tone, demands a reinvention that audiences have yet to see from him. Many fans of The Good Doctor are already asking the same question: Can Freddie Highmore successfully transform into a character this far removed from the one who defined the past seven years of his career?

With the November 20 premiere approaching, anticipation is high. As one chapter ends and another begins, Freddie Highmore stands at the threshold of a bold reinvention — honoring the legacy of Shaun Murphy while stepping confidently into a new era of storytelling.