Don’t cross the Yellowjackets. They’re on a winning spree that even a plane crash can’t stop, because Yellowjackets was renewed for season 3 before season 2 even premiered on Showtime. You don’t have to worry that we’ll never find out who the girls did and did not eat, or whether Coach Ben survived…at least not yet!
I hope this show never ends. It’s so cathartic to watch this “what if Lord of the Flies but girls” show and revel in the fact that ~young ladies~ would be smarter in some ways and just as brutal and cult worship-y in others.
When is Yellowjackets coming back for season 3?
Since we already know season 3 is happening, timing is probably the biggest TBD. The first season aired between November 2021 and January 2022. The second season premiered in March 2023 and will likely end in May or June. Will the third season opt for fall or spring? Will the show mix it up and come back in summer, or split the difference with a winter start date?
I think the only thing we can count on is that the show will be back in 2024 at the earliest. Even with the early renewal, it’s going to take a while to write and film season 3. Plus, think about the scheduling! I have a hunch the cast and crew will be heading to a lot of awards shows later in 2023, and there are some in-demand actresses in the Yellowjackets cast who might be difficult to lock down. Speaking of….
Who will join the cast of Yellowjackets for season 3?
Yellowjackets isn’t exactly the biggest guest star show, but casting announcements were one of the most exciting parts of the break between season 1 and season 2. The show added Simone Kessell, Lauren Ambrose, François Arnaud, and Elijah Wood in the second season. What former child actors/’90s and ’00s faves are next to join the cast, as either adult versions of the survivors or present day characters? I would love to see Gabrielle Union on the show, or Thora Birch. What about Soleil Moon Frye, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, or Jaleel White? I could keep going!
Also like… do you guys get the feeling there are other people in the wilderness? I kind of do. Or at least, I wouldn’t be *shocked* if they encountered another group at some point.
What’s going to happen on Yellowjackets in season 3?
The producers have said before that the plan for Yellowjackets story-wise spans five seasons. That doesn’t mean the show has been renewed for five seasons (it hasn’t yet) or that the plan won’t change (the folks behind Succession also said 4-5 seasons and that show is ending with four).
What it does mean is that if all goes according to plan, season 3 will be the middle of the story. If my math is right, it will be the second summer the girls, Travis, and possibly Ben and Javi spend in the wilderness. In theory, that’s good news. It was easier for the survivors to feed themselves when the weather was warmer. It was also easier to not, like, die from the elements like Jackie. But I wouldn’t put it past this show to not go all Midsommar with some daylight/warm weather horror. I think season 3 is going to be the worst summer ever for the Yellowjackets in a way.
Back in the present timeline, what happens in season 3 depends a lot on what happens in season 2. Are the adult former Yellowjackets going to do more crime? Get away with more murder? Will they all join Lottie’s cult intentional community? We’ll just have to wait and see!