Abigail Spencer & Josh Segarra Join Josh Charles in Fox’s Bold Doc Martin Remake: What You Need to Know About Best Medicine

It’s official. Abigail Spencer is set to star opposite Josh Charles in Fox’s new series Best Medicine, a sharply reimagined American version of the hit British show Doc Martin. Yes, that Doc Martin — the grumpy doctor with no bedside manner and endless small-town drama. If you loved the original or just have a thing for charming coastal towns, acerbic physicians, and witty schoolteachers with no time for nonsense, you might want to keep your eyes peeled for this one.

Fox is clearly betting big on this adaptation, and with Spencer and Charles leading the charge, they might actually pull it off.

First off, if you don’t know Abigail Spencer, let’s get that sorted. She’s best known for her work on Timeless, Rectify, and Mad Men — and frankly, she has a gift for playing sharp, layered women who know how to throw shade while teaching a lesson. In Best Medicine, she’ll be taking on the role of Louisa Glasson, a character who fans of the original show will recognize as the local schoolteacher and eventual love interest of the curmudgeonly doctor.

UPDATE 3:00PM EST: Josh Segarra (Arrow, Abbott Elementary) has also been cast.

This Louisa is set to be just as whip-smart, resilient, and emotionally intuitive as her British counterpart. Spencer brings the right mix of warmth and bite, and her chemistry with Charles is already generating buzz.

Now for the guy trying to keep his feelings bottled up tighter than a pharmacy pill case. Josh Charles, known for The Good Wife and Sports Night, will be playing Dr Martin Best, a top-tier Boston surgeon who is forced to return to his coastal hometown after developing a serious aversion to blood. That’s right — a doctor who cannot stand the sight of blood. Cue the irony.

Charles has a knack for dry wit and simmering emotional depth, which makes him perfect for this role. The American Doc Martin — sorry, Best Medicine — leans more into comedy than drama, giving Charles space to deadpan his way through awkward house calls and town hall meetings filled with lovable weirdos.

While the original Doc Martin was set in the fictional Cornish village of Portwenn, Best Medicine shifts the action to a coastal New England town that’s basically a postcard brought to life. Expect lobster traps, clapboard houses, nosy neighbors, and townsfolk who think HIPAA is the name of a new coffee blend.

This new backdrop provides the perfect stage for the show’s signature contrast — a no-nonsense doctor trying to make sense of people who wear Crocs to city council meetings and think essential oils are a substitute for antibiotics.

American remakes of beloved British shows have a spotty track record. For every The Office, there’s a Skins USA. But Best Medicine has something those flops didn’t — a writing team that gets both the source material and American TV sensibilities.

Liz Tuccillo, one of the brains behind Sex and the City, is on board, along with producers Ben Silverman and Howard T Owens. Even better, the original creators of Doc Martin are executive producers here, so the show isn’t just being rebooted; it’s being strategically translated.

The tone? More comedy than drama. Less stiff upper lip, more passive-aggressive potlucks.

Fox is lining up Best Medicine for its 2025 to 2026 season, most likely as a midseason release. That gives the production plenty of time to perfect its seaside aesthetic and land a few good punchlines.

And don’t worry — this isn’t just another procedural with a gruff guy who secretly has a heart of gold. Okay, well, maybe it is. But at least this one has Abigail Spencer, and that’s reason enough to tune in.

Let’s recap. Abigail Spencer is bringing brains and wit to the role of Louisa. Josh Charles is channeling all the dry charm you could want in a misanthropic doctor. Best Medicine promises a snarky, heartfelt spin on the original Doc Martin, with a setting that screams “vacation town with emotional baggage.”

If Fox plays its cards right, this show could become a sleeper hit — or at the very least, a weekly reminder that being emotionally unavailable is apparently very watchable. Best Medicine should be on your radar. Trust us — this show might just be the prescription you didn’t know you needed.

Ready to diagnose your next TV obsession? Stay tuned for updates, teasers, and more casting news. Your streaming queue can thank us later.