Cruel Summer, the thriller executive produced by Jessica Biel, is being resurrected two years after its quiet cancellation. Blending nostalgia with murder mystery,Cruel Summerpremiered on Freeform in April 2021. The first season centered on two teenage girls, unfolding in the mid-1990s, and zeroing in on what happens when one of those girls disappears and the other seemingly takes her place.
The show embraced an anthology format, taking place in the same overall universe but focusing on adifferentCruel Summercast. The second outing didn’t create the same buzz as the first, coming after significant creative changes behind the scenes, and the thriller was quietly cancelled in December 2023.
Varietyis now reporting thatCruel Summeris being eyed for a potential revival on Hulu and Freeform, with original star Olivia Holt set to return as Kate Wallis. Holt, seen recently as the co-lead of the horror rom-comHeart Eyesopposite Mason Gooding, also executive produces the new season.
Cori Uchida and Adam Lash serve as showrunners and executive produce alongside Biel and Michelle Purple. The project hails from Lionsgate and Iron Ocean.
What This Means For Cruel Summer
After the shockingCruel Summerseason 1 ending, the teen thriller went through some headline-grabbing changes. Series creator Bert V. Royal departed the project after the first episode over creative differences and was replaced by Tia Napolitano for the remainder of the season. Napolitano, in turn, was then replaced by Elle Triedman after the show went in an anthology direction.
The first season, which focused on the shifting fortunes of Kate and Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia), became a quick hit, solidifying itself as Freeform’s most-watched show in history. The second season, which featured a different cast and timeline of the late 1990s and early 2000s, turned its attention to the toxic friendship between Megan (Sadie Stanley) and Isabella (Lexi Underwood), with Griffin Gluck co-starring as Luke.
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The show’s anthology switch was not as embraced by critics and audiences, sliding to 64% onRotten Tomatoesafter the first season reached 94%. ButtheCruel Summerseason 2 endingdoes include a small moment that hints at how Kate’s story might be able to continue, which will now be explored if season 3 is officially picked up.
Our Take On Cruel Summer’s Potential Return
The thing that stood out about the first season was the unexpected gut-punch of the final scene.Cruel Summerseason 2 attempts to replicate that feeling, but the episodes overall don’t have the same impact. Considering that Holt will reprise her pivotal role, this unexpected return could find success.
