The four-part slow-burner Adolescence, created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, left viewers worldwide in shock and awe. Although it was launched as a limited series, a second season seems on the table due to the show’s viral success.
As reported by Deadline, series director Philip Barantini is in talks with Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment, about the next instalment of Adolescence. The series is already one of this year’s buzziest premieres and Netflix’s fourth most popular English-language show. Thus, creating the next season seems like a logical step for producers and distributors.
Plan B was also behind the first season of Adolescence, with Brad Pitt strongly supporting project development. Therefore (we hope) if the next season of the series is indeed made, it will again be a passion project.
When could Adolescence season 2 premiere?
A second season of Adolescence isn’t yet officially confirmed. As far as we know, no script or cast is attached to the project, so we can’t yet predict a release date until the show gives the green light.
The first series was announced in March 2024 and was released a year later. If another series is announced, we’d expect work to take slightly longer.
Talks between creators and producers could take a few months before any contract between the producers and the series creators is signed. Work on the script may also take several months, depending on the number of planned episodes. If the series’ creators want to tell a new story, they must gather a new cast, further extending the pre-production period.
What may be the plot of Adolescence season 2?
Let’s face the truth: the finale of the story told in season 1 was just perfect; it needed no elaboration or continuation. The creators are certainly aware of this – early indications are that the next season will tell a different story.
In an interview with Deadline, Plan B co-presidents Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner stated that they are talking with Barantini about the “next iteration” of the series. As Gardner put it, they wonder how to “widen the aperture, stay true to its DNA [and] not be repetitive.”
The anthology formula would work best if Adolescence were to be renewed for further seasons. Each instalment could be devoted to a different crime committed by a teenage boy or girl, and the creators would have a chance to create a profound portrait of modern-day youth.
Of course, the biggest challenge will be to make the second season’s plot as surprising and emotionally intense as the first. The hallmark of Adolescene is that each episode was shot in a single take – it’s hard to imagine that so-called mastershots would be abandoned in the second entry. However, filming every episode in just one shot is a tremendous challenge for the cast and crew, meaning season 2 will require much effort and budget.
Who may star in Adolescence season 2?
Since we don’t know yet what season 2 will be about, it’s hard to tell who will appear in the cast. In the first instalment, all the actors and actresses were top-notch, but first-time actor Owen Cooper as teenage Jaime and Stephen Graham as his father, Eddie, gave particularly brilliant performances. If the creators decide to tell a new story in season 2, they will have to find actors of equal talent and impact.
