Debra Winger, Mercedes Ruehl and Christine Ebersole join season 2 of “Accused”

EXCLUSIVE: Fox's anthology series Accused added Debra Winger (An officer and gentleman), Mercedes Ruehl (The King of Fishermen) and Christine Ebersole (The Wolf of Wall Street) has been added to the cast of season two. Matthew James Thomas, who appeared in season 1, will return in a new role.

The second season premieres on Tuesday, October 8, at 8 p.m., a new date after a postponement due to the upcoming vice presidential debate.

Accused is a collection of intense, contemporary human stories of crime and punishment. Told in flashbacks from the defendant's perspective, each episode is a fast-paced, provocative thriller, covering a different crime in a different city, with a completely original cast. The series is based on the BBC BAFTA Award-winning crime anthology of the same name by Jimmy McGovern.

The series also stars Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Nick Cannon and Michael Chiklis.

Winger, Ruehl, Ebersole and Thomas will appear in the episode “Margot's Story,” which is about a widow who faces trial because her relationship with a ballroom dance instructor goes too far.

Winger plays “Margot.” Ruehl plays “Connie.” Ebersole plays the character “Deb.” Thomas plays “Alexei.”

Accused was developed for American television by Howard Gordon, who serves as executive producer along with Gordon, Alex Gansa, David Shore, Erin Gunn and Daniel Pearle. Gordon and Pearle serve as co-showrunners. Milan Cheylov, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Jacob Cohen-Holmes of All3Media America, Jimmy McGovern, Sita Williams, Roxy Spencer and Louise Pedersen for All3Media International also serve as EPs. The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Fox Entertainment.

Three-time Oscar nominee Winger is repped by Paradigm and Framework Entertainment. Oscar winner Ruehl is repped by Barking Dog Entertainment and Peikoff-Mahan Attorneys. Independent Artist Group represents Tony Award winner and Emmy nominee Ebersole. Thomas is repped by Innovative Artists and Framework Entertainment.