This "Cruel Summer" Exclusive Poster Teases Even More Mystery and Drama in Season 2
If you've been anxiously waiting for word on the second season of "Cruel Summer," we've got good news! The next season of the hit thriller is officially on its way and set to premiere this summer. We've also got not-so-great news, at least if you were hoping to find out what happens next with Kate, Jeanette, and the rest of the season one crew after the finale.
"Cruel Summer" is officially an anthology series, so each season will focus on a brand-new story with a completely different cast of characters. "I know that nonlinear storytelling is such a big part of why this show is so fun and so we're going to keep that," executive producer Tia Napolitano told People in June 2021. Now, nearly two years later, details about the upcoming season are finally starting to be announced, and we've got all the scoop.
On Jan. 11, 2023, Freeform gave fans a first look at the fresh cast during Disney's Winter TCA press tour. And on May 3, POPSUGAR unveiled the exclusive poster for the second season, which features this story's new lake setting prominently. Keep reading to see the poster and for everything else we know about "Cruel Summer" season two, including its release date, new cast, and a plot that's full of mystery, romance, betrayal, and major twists.
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"Cruel Summer" Season 2 Poster
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"Cruel Summer" Season 2 Plot
When "Cruel Summer" returns for its second season, it will do so in anthology format with a completely new story rather than a continuation of the first season's storylines and characters. The official synopsis reads, "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."
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"Cruel Summer" Season 2 Cast
Along with the new storyline, we're getting a completely new cast for the second season. Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, and Griffin Gluck lead the main cast, with KaDee Strickland, Lisa Yamada, Sean Blakemore, and Paul Adelstein also joining.
According to Freeform, Stanley plays Megan Landry, "a computer coder and honor student who starts focusing more on living in the moment after meeting Isabella," played by Underwood — who replaces newcomer Eloise Payet. Isabella is the daughter of foreign diplomats who is spending a year with the Landry family. Her description notes, "She quickly shakes up life in this small town, but her charm can't hide the truth about her past or the real reason she came to live with the Landrys forever." Meanwhile, Gluck plays Luke Chambers, who "finds himself at a crossroads as he tries to establish his own place in the world, separate from the expectations of his powerful father."
As for the rest of the cast, Strickland plays Debbie, Megan's "hardworking single mom"; Yamada stars as Parker, a well-known musician; Blakemore plays the town's by-the-books Sheriff Myer, while Adelstein recurs as Steve, Luke's high-profile dad.
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"Cruel Summer" Season 2 Premiere Date
The series returns for its second season on June 5 with a two-episode premiere at 9 p.m. It'll then move to its regular 10 p.m. ET time slot for weekly new episodes.