'Animal Kingdom' Season 5 Spoilers: Anthony Konechny Set To Recur As Younger Version Of Billy

Animal Kingdom season 5 is diving back into the past to further explore Janine "Smurf" Cody's (Ellen Barkin) backstory. Even though the character died in the previous installment, fans will still have the chance to learn more about her and meet some of the significant people in her life before.

According to a recent report from Deadline, Animal Kingdom season 5 is adding Anthony Konechny to recur as the younger version of Denis Leary's Billy, the estranged father of Deran Cody (Jake Weary). He is one of the notable people in Smurf's life, and their relationship will be explored in the latest outing.

Despite Smurf's death, the series will still include the character in some shape and form. The fifth installment goes back in time, addressing the character's life in the past. Viewers will see how she and Billy became involved in the crime world, how they fell out, and then eventually separated.

Billy first appeared in the third season and returned at the season 4 finale following Smurf's death. The character is coming back in Animal Kingdom season 5 to shake up the Cody Boys' world, possibly telling stories about him and her former lover's time during their younger years.

But, aside from exploring the past, Animal Kingdom season 5 will also see the Codys struggling to keep their operation running now that Smurf is gone. The matriarch of the family was the one who facilitates their plans, and now that she's out of the picture, the boys must figure out how to secure their empire.

Deran, J (Finn Cole), Craig (Ben Robson), and Pope (Shawn Hatosy) will be navigating their new lives. They're going to start from scratch and need to find a way to make deals with others. However, problems may arise along the way, with power struggle and leadership the major sources of conflict.

Also, Angela (Emily Deschanel) will have a huge role in the lives of the Cody Boys, and she might be a big help in their operations. Pamela Johnson's (Milauna Jackson) storyline will also be explored, considering her connection with Smurf. The latter left most of her money to her, though it's unknown why.

Meanwhile, cast and crew resume filming Animal Kingdom season 5 in September following production shut down earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the series was halfway around done. The official release date has yet to be announced, but it is expected to premiere at some point in 2021 on TNT.