The hit thriller is equal parts survival tale, psychological horror story and a coming-of-age series.
It’s official: Yellowjackets is returning for a second season.
Equal parts survival tale, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, the hit thriller follows members of a high school soccer team along two timelines: the aftermath of a 1996 plane crash that left them stranded in the wilderness for just under two years, and 25 years later as they go to great lengths to hide the horrendous things they did to survive.
Showtime announced that Yellowjackets had been renewed for a second season in December 2021, halfway through its first season’s run.
The show launched to strong reviews and scored a rare 100 per cent on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, leading Showtime’s entertainment president Gary Levine to call Yellowjackets an “unadulterated sensation”.
“It’s done extremely well in terms of streaming subscriptions,” Levine told Deadline in December 2021. “It was our second biggest series debut ever on streaming, and it’s grown each week on streaming by double digit percentages. In terms of acclaim, in terms of buzz – no pun intended — and in terms of hard numbers, this show has just exploded.
“For it to be embraced as quickly and as deeply as it was by both audiences and critics alike, that’s a little like catching lightning in a bottle — you can never anticipate that but boy, it’s awfully sweet when it rarely happens.”
Talking about the reasons for Yellowjackets’ success, Levine added: “I think what it says is, in this time of reboots, comic books and procedurals, there is a real hunger for originality.
“It’s such a unique concept, and also the fact that it’s all women and showing of all sides of women: they are athletes, they are hunter-gatherers, they are cheaters, they are killers, and yet there is sisterhood and there is competition.”
It’s hardly surprising then, that the wheels have been set in motion for a second season. Read on for everything you need to know about Yellowjackets season 2 including release date rumours and latest news.
Yellowjackets season 2 release date: when will it air?
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Yellowjackets fans received a late Christmas gift when Showtime announced season 2’s return date towards the end of 2022.
“You won’t be hungry much longer,” a new teaser claimed as it revealed Friday 24th March as the official return date – and not just for the US, it turns out. UK fans will also get to see the Yellowjackets season two premiere on March 24th as well on Paramount Plus.
Yellowjackets season 2 cast: who stars?
The first season of Yellowjackets boasted a star-studded cast including Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, and Tawny Cypress portraying the present-day survivors of Shauna, Natalie, Misty, and Tai, respectively. Ella Purnell also features as Jackie, the team captain of the soccer team.
Season 2 will bring all of them back and also the actors who played their teen doppelgangers too, which includes Sophie Nélisse, Sophie Thatcher, Sammi Hanratty, and Jasmin Savoy Brown.
The only question mark we have right now concerns Ella Purnell given what happened to Jackie at the end of season 1. Still, she shouldn’t be counted out completely given this show’s love of flashbacks and the supernatural.
New cast additions for season 2 have been revealed, including Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood as newcomer Walter Tatersall, a citizen detective who will butt heads with Misty.
Speaking about Yellowjackets in a teaser interview with Showtime, he said taking on the role was an “easy yes”. “There’s some really wonderful surprises and it gets gnarly and scary and dark… and f**king twisted,” he added.
Servant’s Lauren Ambrose has also been cast as adult Van, plus Supergirl’s Nicole Maines will play a new character named Lisa who is associated somehow with adult Lottie.
Yellowjackets season 2 plot: what will happen?
Yellowjackets raised a huge amount of buzz with season 1, and a ton of questions along with it. Is Taissa evil now? Who kidnapped Natalie? And what’s become of Lottie in the present day?
Season 2 will hit the ground running with answers to all these questions and more, but don’t expect the answers to come quick and easy.
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Co-creators (and married couple) Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson told The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5 podcast that they pitched the show “as a five-season idea,” which means that they’ll need to keep the mysteries alive for at least a few more seasons.
Thankfully, season 3 has already been confirmed by Showtime, so we don’t have to worry about any sudden cancellations in the vein of Netflix‘s recent kill streak.
Yellowjackets season 2 trailer: when can I watch it?
“Ready for a taste of Yellowjackets?” If you are, then look no further than this first official trailer that’s crash landed into our lives ahead of the season 2 premiere.
Yellowjackets is available to stream on Paramount Plus – get Paramount Plus for no extra cost on Sky, or get a seven-day free trial of Paramount Plus on Amazon Prime Video.
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