Frank Langella to appear on 'The Americans'

Oscar nominated actor Frank Langella is joining The Americans in a recurring role to oversee Philip and Elizabeth Jennings.

Langella will play “Gabriel,” Philip and Elizabeth’s previous KGB handler, who emerges from retirement to assume duties from Margo Martindale’s Claudia. (Martindale also appears on the CBS sitcom The Millers.) In the second season finale—spoiler alert—Claudia explained the Center’s intentions to turn Philip and Elizabeth’s daughter, Paige.

“We’ve been huge fans of Frank’s work for a long time, and it’s been such a pleasure getting to know Frank himself in the beginning stages of working together on the character of Gabriel,” executive producers Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields said in a statement. “We look forward to a great season together, and to what we’re sure will be a phenomenal creative collaboration.”

As for the future of Martindale’s Claudia, Fields told EW in a statement: “We hope to have her back, but don’t have it in a script yet. Claudia is secretive and unpredictable!”

Langella was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Frost/Nixon. The third season of The Americans debuts in January.