Cruel Summer has officially been picked up for a second season at Freeform, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series became the network’s most-watched series ever following its first-season debut.
The drama series follows three summers in the 1990s when a girl goes missing and another subsequently takes over her life. The series is executive produced by Jessica Biel (The Sinner), with Tia Napolitano (Station 19) serving as showrunner. Following its positive reception from critics, Cruel Summer‘s renewal comes as no surprise, as stated by Freeform president Tara Duncan, “Renewing Cruel Summer for a season two was an easy decision. 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,” via The Hollywood Reporter.
Within 35 days of multiplatform viewing, Cruel Summer averaged 6.8 million total viewers per day, ranking number one among cable dramas of the year among women aged 18 to 34. “Collaborating with Iron Ocean, our dedicated crew, charismatic cast, and our partners at Freeform and eOne has been the best first showrunning experience I could ask for,” Napolitano said. “I am beyond grateful and excited by the amazing fan response to our show! Continuing to bottle Cruel Summer magic for a season two is an absolute dream come true,” via The Hollywood Reporter.
In a joint statement, Biel and fellow executive producer Michelle Purple (The Book of Love) said, “We are so proud of this show and the incredible cast and crew who brought so much hard work and grit to every single scene. This wouldn’t have been possible without them and our mastermind showrunner, Tia Napolitano. To be picked up for a second season is a dream, and we have so many ideas for where we can take this next. We are excited to get to work with our brilliant team of creatives on this project in addition to our partners at Freeform and eOne. To the audiences who have been tuning into this show week in and week out, thank you!!! This is all for you!”
All episodes of Cruel Summer are currently available to stream on Hulu, as are all of Freeform’s originals.