Is the teen thriller series finally making a comeback this year? Continue reading to find out about Cruel Summer Season 2.
Another great series for you to add to your watchlist if you love a good thriller drama series with amazing plotlines and characters arcs. It’s refreshing to witness such a unique original in a television world dominated by franchise material and remakes.
It’s an ambitious notion, but the program appears to know exactly what it wants to do. Summertime and thrillers are inextricably linked, and Cruel Summer is a delightfully serpentine warm-weather diversion.
The drama takes place over three summers in the 1990s and is a psychological thriller in the spirit of Pretty Little Liars, but with superior storytelling. Bert V. Royal produced the American teen drama thriller anthology series Cruel Summer.
The series chronicles two young girls in the 1990s and the consequences on everyone’s life when one disappears, and the other arrives to take her place. On April 20, 2021, the series launched on Freeform.
Here is everything we know about Cruel Summer Season 2.
Is Cruel Summer renewed for Season 2?
Cruel Summer’s final episode, Hostile Witness, premiered on June 15, 2021. It only took a few days for fans to finally get the good news and cheer because the series was renewed for another season last summer in June 2021.
We were made aware that the series was one of the most top-rated series on the Freeform network. Moreover, the series has good a great reception and viewership for the viewers, so it definitely made sense that the series was renewed for another season.
Check out the official announcement below:
One last secret revealed. #CruelSummer #Season2 pic.twitter.com/tDr7wFzLxq
— Cruel Summer (@cruelsummer) June 16, 2021
Moreover, new Freeform president Tara Duncan stated, “Renewing Cruel Summer for a season two was an easy decision.”
He further added, “It’s the biggest series debut in Freeform’s history, and the audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. Jessica, Michelle, and Tia did a phenomenal job telling an addictive story that’s tapped into the cultural zeitgeist. I’m excited to see where they take the series next.”
Fans’ reaction to the renewal for Cruel Summer Season 2
OMG KADEE IS IN CRUEL SUMMER SEASON 2
— Suzy Hunt ☀️ (TV) (@comfortkepner) April 21, 2022
NO BC I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR SEASON 2 OF CRUEL SUMMER FOR SO LONG AND NOW THIS I AM WINNING
— nina 🙂 (@simpforsurrera) April 21, 2022
while im excited for cruel summer season 2 i rlly wish they weren’t going the anthology route, s1 ended in a way where we rlly could continue the mystery 🙁
— riley 31 (@maybankfiIms) April 21, 2022
Cruel Summer Season 2: Filming Updates
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Cruel Summer Season 2 has begun production, which will have a completely fresh storyline for its upcoming sophomore season, with a completely new cast and showrunner, on April 21, 2022.
Check out the official post below:
View this post on Instagram
As a result, it is anticipated that the series will take some time to finish the production stage before premiering this year.
Cruel Summer Season 2 Potential Release Date
The precise release date for the upcoming season is yet to be announced. However, the announcement post confirmed that the second season would undoubtedly premiere in 2022. We predict that Cruel Summer Season 2 is expected to launch in mid-to late-2022.
But we would like to highlight the fact that the fans should wait patiently for any official updates, which will be released sometime soon. Moreover, Hollywood Reporter, recently reported on April 21, 2022, that the series will be making a comeback in late 2022.
Cruel Summer Season 2 Episodes
The network and show’s creator has yet to reveal the number of episodes as well as the titles.
The series is expected to include at least 10 episodes, similar to how the previous installments, Cruel Summer Season 1 had 10 episodes, which was titled and released on the following dates:
- S1E1: “Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner” – April 20, 2021
- S1E2: “A Smashing Good Time” – April 20, 2021
- S1E3: “Off with a Bang” – April 27, 2021
- S1E4: You Don’t Hunt, You Don’t Eat” – May 4, 2021
- S1E5: “As the Carny Gods Intended” – May 11, 2021
- S1E6: “An Ocean Inside Me” – May 18, 2021
- S1E7: “Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis” – May 25, 2021
- S1E8: “Proof” – June 1, 2021
- S1E9: “A Secret of My Own” – June 8, 2021
- S1E10: “Hostile Witness” – June 15, 2021
Cruel Summer Season 2 is expected to follow a similar pattern unless the studio has a surprise element planned for the fans to look forward to, which could result in a higher number of episodes. Fans must wait for such Cruel Summer Season 2 updates till they are officially revealed.
Cruel Summer Season 2 Episodes Runtime
Without advertisements, each episode of Cruel Summer Season 2 is expected to last 45 minutes and approx 60 minutes with commercials when it will air on the respective channel. As a result, the series is predicted to follow a similar pattern in this regard.
What to expect from Cruel Summer Season 2?
According to a Deadline report, the official synopsis of the upcoming season is as follows:
Set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest, the second chapter follows the rise and fall of an intense teenage friendship. Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twists and turns as it tracks the early friendship between Megan, Isabella, and Megan’s best friend Luke, the love triangle that blossomed, and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.
Cruel Summer Season 2 Cast
Cruel Summer will be released as an anthology series on the Freeform channel. Moreover, the show’s third showrunner will lead the Cruel Summer Season 2, which will contain an entirely new cast, a new enigma, and a new mystery.
The reported cast members of the upcoming season, as revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, are as follows:
- Megan Landry, a computer coder and honor student from a blue-collar household, is played by Sadie Stanley.
- Eloise Payet stars as Isabella, the intriguing and enigmatic daughter of foreign diplomats who spends a year as an exchange student with the Landry family.
- Griffin Gluck plays Luke Chambers, Megan’s longstanding best friend from a prominent family.
- KaDee Strickland plays Debbie, Megan’s devoted single mother who believes that hosting Isabella will expose Megan to a world outside their tiny town.
- Lisa Yamada plays Parker, a popular musician who gets increasingly cynical as the world around her darkens.
- Sean Blakemore will play Sheriff Myer, an old-school law-and-order type who is under pressure to solve Chatham’s first serious crime.
- Paul Adelstein will play Steve, who is a recurring cast member of the series. Luke’s high-profile dad, whose influence in town is far-reaching.
Are there any prior cast members returning to Cruel Summer Season 2?
The first season of the anthology series starred Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Michael Landes, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee, and Brooklyn Sudano, following the story of two young women across three summers.
As previously announced, the series is taking a fresh approach, and the cast members of the following season will be completely new and different from the previous season.
So, it’s unlikely that Cruel Summer Season 1 will return for the next season.
Unless the show’s creators and producers intend to include a surprise aspect, which will be revealed in the following months. Until then, it’s just guesswork, and fans should keep an eye out for official developments.
Take a look at some of the photos from the cast members
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Is there any trailer released for Cruel Summer Season 2?
No, there is no Cruel Summer Season 2 teaser or trailer because the series has only recently begun development and production for the upcoming season. As a result, we recommend that you watch all of Season 1’s episodes again if you haven’t already, and for the time being, enjoy the official trailer and poster of Season 1.
Check out the official trailer below:
The trailer gives the viewers glimpses of Kate Wallis vanishing without a trace, and Jeanette Turner, an awkward outsider, comes to take up her life. The plot is depicted in segments in the trailer, and the suspense builds around the characters.
Check out the official poster below:
Where to watch Cruel Summer?
Cruel Summer Season 1 is currently available to watch on fuboTV or Hulu Plus. Moreover, Cruel Summer is also available to rent or buy on Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, and Google Play.
Cruel Summer: The official synopsis
According to Wikipedia, Set in the fictional town of Skylin, Texas, each episode focuses on the same day over the course of three years: 1993, 1994, and 1995.
The series follows two teenage girls: Kate Wallis is a beloved popular girl who one day disappears without a trace at the hands of new vice-principal Martin Harris. Jeanette Turner is an awkward outcast who seemingly takes over Kate’s life after she goes missing.
Found alive a year later, Kate accuses Jeanette of witnessing her abduction but not reporting it, which results in Jeanette becoming the most despised person in America. Through multiple lawsuits and fractured families, friendships and relationships, everyone scrambles to pick sides as the true story unfolds.
Episodes alternate between Jeanette and Kate’s viewpoints. Disclaimers appear before certain episodes, cautioning viewers about themes in episodes such as child grooming and domestic abuse.
Cruel Summer: The overall reception
Cruel Summer received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 94% based on 32 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website’s critic’s consensus states, “Though it may have a bit too much going on, Cruel Summer’s delicious twists and delightful turns from its young stars are never less than entertaining.”
Brad Newsome from Sydney Morning Herald stated, “This intriguing mystery series feels a little choppy at first, but once you get used to the fact that it’s dealing out the story in slices of three different summers, ’93, ’94, and ’95, the conceit proves highly effective.”
According to Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 based on 15 critic reviews, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.
Justin Carreiro from Fanatic states, “Cruel Summer is not a series to lightly follow in the background; you’ll need to watch to pick up on all the yearly threads.”
Catch up on Cruel Summer Season 1, which is exclusively available on stream until Cruel Summer Season 2 debuts this year.