Season 2 of “Yellowjackets” doesn’t premiere for another three months, but it looks like Showtime expects the buzzy show to pick up where it left off. Showtime has revealed that the network has renewed its breakout survival drama for a third season ahead of the next season’s premiere in March 2023.
The news should come as no surprise for “Yellowjackets” fans. At this point, it’s common knowledge that show creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson originally pitched the series as a five-season storyline. Now it looks like they and co-showrunner Jonathan Lisco are that much closer to completing that vision.
Not familiar with “Yellowjackets”? Not to worry: the show follows a high school girls’ soccer team who survive a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness but soon descend into savagery and possibly cannibalism. The show cuts between two timelines: one in the ’90s, as the girls struggle to survive after the crash, and one in the present day, with the now-adult women reckoning with their shared traumatic history. Imagine a female-driven, pitch-black dramedy that’s part teen drama and part “Lord Of The Flies.” In other words, not for the faint of heart.
Despite its often grisly events, word of mouth helped “Yellowjackets” becomes a smash hit for Showtime after season one premiere last November. It didn’t hurt that Karyn Kusama directed the show’s pilot, either. The show boasts a talented ensemble cast, too, with Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, and Tawny Cypress leading the charge. The show also stars Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, and Samantha Hanratty as the younger versions of the four leads. Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Steven Krueger, Warren Kole, and Kevin Alves round out the main cast. Newcomers for Season 2 include Lauren Ambrose, Simone Kessell, and Elijah Wood.
Showtime and Paramount Media Networks President and CEO Chris McCarthy announced the show’s renewal yesterday in a press release. “With “Yellowjackets’’ runaway success in Season 1 and the pent-up anticipation for Season 2, we wanted to maximize the momentum by fast-tracking Season 3 now,” he said in a statement. “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.”
“Yellowjackets” didn’t win any of its seven Emmy nominations earlier this year, but no matter: expect Season 2 to further bolster the show’s reputation as one of the most talked about series on TV. Season 2 of “Yellowjackets” premieres on March 24, 2023, only on Showtime.