After airing only two episodes of season three, HBO dropped the news that they would renew Succession for season four, via The Hollywood Reporter. HBO announced the decision merely 10 days after the premiere of season three.
So far, season three of Succession has received impressive ratings and positive feedback. With more than 1.4 million viewers across multiple platforms, the newest premiere episode became the best premiere night of any HBO original series since the debut of streamer HBO Max. On RottenTomatoes.com, the series currently holds an outstanding 96 percent rating. Based on 30 reviews, season three scores a 92 on Metacritic. The previous two seasons also earned multiple Golden Globe Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards, including Best Television Series – Drama and Outstanding Drama Series.
“If you’ve been waiting for season three, you’re probably prepared to testify against your family in a public setting to get those episodes,” wrote Daniel Fienberg, a TV critic of The Hollywood Reporter. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other related factors, this season has been delayed multiple times. While planning to begin its development in April 2020, the production was postponed that year. Filming began in December 2020 in New York City and then moved to Richmond, Virginia, and Italy during the summer of 2021. At this point, fans had spent two years waiting after the last episode was aired on October 13, 2019.
Succession stars Brian Cox (Manhunter), Jeremy Strong (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down), Nicholas Braun (Red State), Sarah Snook (Predestination), Matthew Macfadyen (Criminal Justice), and Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). Strong won Outstanding Lead Actor In a Drama Series at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, while Cox, Culkin, Braun, Snook, and Macfadyen all received nominations for their performances.
“With each season of Succession, Jesse Armstrong has continued to surpass our wildest expectations, pulling us deeper into the Roy family’s inner sanctum with indelible wit, humanity, and precision,” said Francesca Orsi, executive VP of HBO programming. “This season is undoubtedly no exception, and we couldn’t be more excited for all that’s in store in this next season ahead.” Succession is by far one of the most popular and fan-favorite series on the platform, due to its unique style and high quality. Critic Angie Han wrote that “Succession is an inherently political show, but — Conheads jokes notwithstanding — I think it fares better at digging into the rotten systems that the Roys are already entrenched in.”
Jesse Armstrong serves as the creator and executive producer of the series. The British screenwriter co-created projects such as Peep Show and Fresh Meat before Succession. A critically-acclaimed writer, Armstrong won two awards for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys consecutively. Other executive producers include Adam McKay (Vice), Will Ferrell (Eastbound and Down), Frank Rich (Veep), Jane Tranter (Doctor Who), and more.
The ongoing season of Succession is set to conclude on December 5, 2021. Plot and cast information for the future season has yet to be disclosed.