Let the fan theories commence: Yellowjackets is getting a second season.
The newest hit thriller follows members of a high school women's soccer team in two timelines: the immediate aftermath of a 1996 plane crash that left them stranded in the wilderness for 19 months, and 25 years later as the women still living try to keep what they did to survive secret. The brutal premise is part survival horror, part psychological drama, showing how the teenage friendships initially devolve and later get warped by trauma and secrets over the years–and that's before you add in its excellent '90s punk soundtrack.
Showtime announced the series' season 2 renewal earlier this year, halfway through its first season, which currently has a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Critic's Choice nomination for best drama series. The network’s entertainment presidents Gary Levine and Jana Winograde saying they are "overwhelmed by both the acclaim and the audience response," per The Hollywood Reporter.
"Clearly there is a hunger for originality and audacity, and our incredible showrunners Ashley [Lyle], Bart [Nickerson] and Jonathan [Lisco], along with their pitch-perfect cast, have delivered that and so much more. I can’t wait to see the surprises they have in store for us in Season 2," Levine said in a statement.
Fans are clamoring for as much info as possible to solve their theories on how certain characters died and where the survivors ended up–minus leads Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), Taissa (Tawny Cypress), Natalie (Juliette Lewis), Misty (Christina Ricci). Ahead is everything we know so far about season 2 of Yellowjackets.
Yellowjackets will return March 2023.
Showtime announced that the Emmy-nominated drama will return for its second season starting Friday, March 24 on streaming and will air on network television Sunday, March 26. A full trailer for the new season was released today which can be seen below.
The network also released a first look at the new season. The solemn pic gives a peek at the wilderness timeline, showing the teenage Yellowjackets—including Shauna (Sophie Nélisse), Taissa (Jasmine Savoy Brown), Natalie (Sophie Thatcher), Misty (Samantha Hanratty), and Lottie (Courtney Eaton)—staring into a warm glow coming from off-camera. The team look devastated as they peer into what could be the fire during a big moment (maybe Jackie's funeral?).
Surprises are in store and new faces will be introduced.
"I do know that there will be some surprises in terms of the characters," Gary Levine told Deadline. "There are still lots of questions about who survived, what happened out there. There will be some real surprises in terms of that and I think some characters you may not even have met yet."
Van survives — and will be portrayed by Six Feet Under actress Lauren Ambrose.
Entertainment Weekly confirmed that the character Van will return for the show's second season with its main actress Liv Hewson being upped to a series regular and her adult counterpart being portrayed by Lauren Ambrose. She's set to join the main cast-members Tawny Cypress, Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis.
Adult Lottie will be played by Obi-Wan Kenobi actress Simone Kessell.
The biggest surprise of the season 1 finale was the reveal that Antler Queen Lottie (Courtney Eaton) has survived to adulthood and now runs a cult, which kidnapped Natalie (Lewis) in the episode's final moments. Variety confirmed that the show has cast Obi-Wan Kenobi and Our Flag Means Death actress Simone Kessel as the adult version of the mysterious Yellowjacket.
Also, another new non-Yellowjacket character has been announced. Deadline reported that that Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood will portray Walter, "a dedicated citizen detective who will challenge Misty (Christina Ricci) in ways she won't see coming."
The show has already been renewed for Season 3.
Amid a slew of cancellations from other networks, Showtime had some good news for Yellowjackets fans! The series was renewed for its third season on December 15, more than three months before Season 2 arrives in March. The announcement came with an eerie clip of a number three appearing on an icy window, and now we're wondering just how long the team's cold winter in the remote wilderness will last.
Quinci LeGardye is an LA-based freelance writer who covers culture, politics, and mental health through a Black feminist lens. When she isn’t writing or checking Twitter, she’s probably watching the latest K-drama or giving a concert performance in her car.
