After the intense fan reaction to Showtime’s Yellowjackets during its first season, the show quickly became a hit, earning early renewals for its second and third seasons. In December 2022, months before season 2 even aired, Showtime confirmed a third season was on the way. Star Melanie Lynskey (Shauna) enthusiastically shared the news on X, expressing her willingness to continue playing the character “forever.”
This early green light wasn’t too surprising, given that the show’s creators, Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, have hinted at a five-season plan for the series. Yellowjackets follows a high school girls’ soccer team whose plane crashes in the wilderness, where they descend into a year of brutal survival—including cannibalism. In the present day, the show tracks the adult lives of these survivors, exploring how their time in the wilderness continues to haunt them.
What Happened in Season 2?
Season 2 delivered plenty of shocking moments. In the 1996 timeline, the girls’ horrifying descent into cannibalism was confirmed when they ate their friend Jackie. Shauna’s baby tragically didn’t survive childbirth, adding to the group’s despair. In the present-day storyline, Shauna found herself being investigated for the murder of her lover, Adam Martin. The finale packed even more tragedy, with Natalie (Juliette Lewis) dying after a chaotic confrontation involving a cult member with a shotgun.
By the end of the season, the 1996 survivors were left without shelter as their cabin burned to the ground, and tensions were high as Lottie (Courtney Eaton) named Natalie the group’s new leader. Meanwhile, in the present day, the core cast of adult survivors—Shauna, Misty, Taissa, Van, and Lottie—dealt with the fallout of Natalie’s death, leaving fans on edge as they await what comes next.
What Can We Expect from Season 3?
While specifics about season 3 are under wraps, we do know that the storyline will continue to track the survivors’ brutal experiences in the wilderness and the lasting effects in their present-day lives. Co-creator Ashley Lyle has teased that the upcoming season will have a similar vibe to the first, suggesting a return to the raw intensity of their earlier days in the wilderness.
Lyle hinted that the group will be “thriving” out there, though exactly what that means for the characters is yet to be revealed.
Fans can also expect answers to lingering questions: How will the group survive the brutal winter without shelter? Will Shauna’s position as a leader continue to be challenged? And how will Misty cope with the guilt of accidentally killing Natalie? These are just a few of the intriguing threads that the new season will likely explore.
Additionally, Lyle confirmed that there will be a bonus episode released before season 3 premieres, potentially shifting the storyline in unexpected ways.
Who Will Be in the Season 3 Cast?
Most of the main cast is expected to return for season 3. This includes Melanie Lynskey as adult Shauna, Christina Ricci as Misty, Tawny Cypress as Taissa, and Lauren Ambrose as adult Van. However, Juliette Lewis, whose character Natalie met a tragic end in the season 2 finale, likely won’t return. There’s still a question mark surrounding new cast members from season 2, such as Simone Kessell (adult Lottie) and Lauren Ambrose (adult Van), though they are expected to remain central to the story.
In the 1996 timeline, viewers can expect to see Sophie Nélisse (teen Shauna), Sophie Thatcher (teen Natalie), Samantha Hanratty (teen Misty), Courtney Eaton (teen Lottie), Jasmin Savoy Brown (teen Taissa), and Liv Hewson (teen Van) return, along with other familiar faces like Steven Krueger (Coach Ben) and Kevin Alves (Travis).
Season 3 will also introduce a couple of exciting new faces. As per Variety, Joel McHale will make a guest appearance, though his character details are still under wraps. Hilary Swank, according to Deadline reports, is another exciting addition, reportedly joining the cast with the possibility of becoming a series regular in season 4.
When Will Season 3 Air?
Due to delays caused by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, according to Deadline, Yellowjackets season 3 won’t air until 2025. Filming began in May 2024, and the writers’ room reopened in September 2023. While fans are eager for more, the long wait means that the show will have time to develop its plotlines further. In the meantime, Yellowjackets season 1 will become available on Netflix starting in October 2023, potentially attracting a whole new audience to the survival horror drama.
The Bottom Line
As fans anxiously await season 3, the anticipation continues to build around what’s next for the survivors of Yellowjackets. With new cast members, more revelations about their time in the wilderness, and a deepening of the mysteries surrounding their present-day lives, season 3 is shaping up to be another thrilling chapter in the hit series. Though the release date may be far off, the intricate storytelling and intense performances guarantee that Yellowjackets will remain a show worth waiting for.
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