Warning: This article contains spoilers for Season One of Yellowjackets.
Yellowjackets was one of the biggest hits of the new year, and we’re positively itching for more.
Thankfully, Season 2 of the coming-of-age / cannibalism drama is on the way, and after months of being slated for release in early 2023, and Showtime has finally confirmed the official premiere date: March 24, 2023 (which will likely be March 25 in Australia).
Since premiering late last year, the show has become a smash hit with critics and viewers alike, and is expected to get awards attention once the 2022 Emmy Award nominees are announced.
“Yellowjackets has been an unadulterated sensation for Showtime,” said Showtime entertainment president Gary Levine in a statement earlier this year.
“We are overwhelmed by both the acclaim and the audience response to our series, including several ‘Best of 2021’ lists, a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and snowballing viewership.
“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 two.”
So what’s in store for our Yellowjackets in Season 2? Expect things to pick up where they left off, in both timelines.
“We are definitely re-visiting the winter storyline,” Lyle told Variety. “We’ve been calling Season 2, The Winter of Their Discontent,” she revealed, referencing the John Steinbeck book of the same name (as well as the line from Shakespeare’s Richard III that Steinbeck took the title from, of course).
Here’s everything we know so far about Yellowjackets Season 2.
Is There Going to Be a Second Season of Yellowjackets?
There is! Thankfully, Season 2 of Yellowjackets was confirmed in December of 2021, before the first season was even done.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news, and stated that the show was originally pitched with a five season arc. Given the first season’s immense success, we can only imagine that Showtime will be all-too-pleased to give us all five seasons — and maybe more! — of the drama.
Who Will Star in Yellowjackets Season 2?
Lucky for us, it seems all our faves across both of Yellowjackets‘ timelines will be returning for Season 2.
In the present-day timeline, our adult cast of Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Juliette Lewis, and Tawny Cypress will all be back, playing Shauna, Misty, Natalie and Taissa respectively. Warren Kole, Sarah Desjardins, Rukiya Bernard, and Aiden Stoxx are also set to reprise their roles as the girls’ family members.
Meanwhile, Sophie Nélisse, Samantha Hanratty, Sophie Thatcher, and Jasmin Savoy Brown will also be returning to play the 90s versions of Shauna, Misty, Natalie and Taissa.
Six Feet Under alum Lauren Ambrose will also be joining the cast for Season 2, playing Adult Van, which confirms that Van’s character survives the wilderness and makes it to the adult timeline. Liv Hewson, who plays Van in the ’96 timeline, has also been promoted to series regular for Season 2.
Showtime has also announced that Elijah Wood will be joining the cast for Season 2, in a season-long guest role.
Per Deadline, “Wood will play Walter, a dedicated citizen detective who will challenge Misty in ways she won’t see coming”.
Wood has previously worked with both Ricci and Lynskey, in 1997’s The Ice Storm and 2017’s I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore.
It’s honestly so crazy how every piece of casting news brings more joy?? Now my dear friend @elijahwood is on the show?? The person I had the happiest time of my life working with on I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore??!! My heart!! https://t.co/A0DctKRp98
— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) August 19, 2022
In September, Deadline announced that Yellowjackets Season 2 had also added Malaysian actress Nuha Jes Izman to the cast in a recurring guest spot.
“Izman will play Crystal, a member of the JV squad and a hard-core theatre enthusiast who makes the dubious decision to bond with Misty,” Deadline reported.
Meanwhile, Kevin Alves (Travis), Steven Krueger (Coach Ben Scott), Keeya King (Akilah), Alexa Barajas (Mari) and Luciano Leroux (Javi) are also safe bets to return for Season 2.
Finally, although Jackie (Ella Purnell) and Laura Lee’s (Jane Widdop) characters bit the dust in Season 1, there’s always the option to bring them back in flashbacks, given that their whole characters’ existence thus far has been, you know, in flashbacks.
Related: Lauren Ambrose Joins ‘Yellowjackets’, Confirming That Van’s Not Six Feet Under
Who Will Play Grown Up Lottie?
Ever since the reveal in the Season 1 finale that Lottie’s character had survived the 19 months in the wilderness and was alive in the 2021 timeline, fans of the Showtime series have been eagerly waiting to find out who would be playing her.
Recently, Showtime announced that Obi-Wan Kenobi actress Simone Kessell will be playing Adult Lottie, and that Courtney Eaton — who plays young Lottie in the ’96 timeline — has also been promoted to series regular for Season 2.
What Will Yellowjackets Season 2 Be About?
If there’s one thing Yellowjackets Season 1’s finale left us with, it’s questions.
Questions like: If not Jackie, who’s the girl the soccer team cooked up for dinner in the first episode? What’s the deal with the cabin in the woods? How did Lottie end up a literal cult leader? What’s the deal with Tai and whatever she’s got going on in her basement?
Thus, Season 2 will likely focus on answering some (although, let’s be real — probably not all) of these questions.
The Season 1 finale saw Lottie have Nat kidnapped, so the most likely plot we have so far is that our remaining adult Yellowjackets — Shauna, Tai and Misty — will have to team up to save her from Lottie and her followers.
Of course, this is much easier said than done, right? After all, Shauna has a lot going on, what with the whole ‘covering up Adam’s murder’ thing, Tai’s busy beheading dogs, and Misty poisoned Jessica! It’s a lot.
Is There a Trailer for Yellowjackets Season 2?
Along with the premiere date, Showtime also blessed Yellowjackets fans with the very first, very brief glimpse of Season 2, with a 15 second teaser trailer.
When Is Yellowjackets Season 2 Coming Out?
Showtime has confirmed that Yellowjackets Season 2 will premiere on March 24, 2023, which will mean March 25 for Australian viewers.
Where Can I Watch Yellowjackets Season 2 in Australia?
Once it’s released, Yellowjackets Season 2 will be streaming on Paramount+.
Will There Be a Third Season of Yellowjackets?
Three months before the premiere of Yellowjackets Season 2, Showtime announced that they were renewing the series for a third season.
The woods have a way of calling you back. #Yellowjackets is renewed for Season 3. pic.twitter.com/7e3LPzlBle
— Yellowjackets (@yellowjackets96) December 15, 2022
In a statement, Chris McCarthy, President/CEO of Showtime and Paramount Media Networks, said, “With Yellowjacket’s runaway success in Season 1 and the pent-up anticipation for Season 2, we wanted to maximise the momentum by fast tracking Season 3 now.”
“The show’s ambition is only exceeded by its execution, and I thank the incredible creative team behind it, including Ashley, Bart, Jonathan, eOne and the SHOWTIME team, for turning this into such a success,” he added.
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