Yellowjackets fans rejoice! We are getting closer to a season two release, and today Showtime announced that two-time Emmy and Tony nominee Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under, Servant) is joining the titular jackets as a series regular. Who exactly will Ambrose be playing? The adult version of Van! Some more good news for fans of Van, Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Diet) who plays the teen version of Van, has been upped to a series regular for this new season, which means a whole lot more of Van is coming our way. After surviving a full-on mauling, we’re happy to know Van joins the ranks of the Yellowjackets who make it to adulthood.
Season one also starred Ella Purnell (Sweetbitter), Samantha Hanratty (SHAMELESS), Sophie Thatcher (Prospect), Jasmin Savoy Brown (The Leftovers), Sophie Nélisse (The Book Thief), Steven Krueger (The Originals) and Warren Kole (Shades of Blue).
The first season gave us adult versions of Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), Taissa (Tawny Cypress), Misty (Christina Ricci), and Natalie (Juliette Lewis) which left Jackie, Lottie, Van, Akilah, Mari, Javi, and Coach Ben unaccounted for in present day. Granted, there have been allusions to what may have happened to some of those we don’t have proof of life for in the contemporary timeline, and we also know Travis makes it out of the wilderness at least, (RIP Laura Lee, probably), but we’re not ruling out any adult versions of the Yellowjackets being added to the mix. Really the teen/adult casting matchups in this show are unparalleled, and every confirmed survivor added to the list is cause for celebration.
In addition to Six Feet Under and M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant, Ambrose also played Chicklet in Psycho Beach Party, a comedy-horror campy cult classic based on a stage play of the same name. If you’re not on the Yellowjackets train yet, that list of talent involved should be reason enough to start today, but here’s the official synopsis in case you need more convincing.
Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, YELLOWJACKETS is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.
Yellowjackets is nominated for seven Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress for Melanie Lynskey and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Christina Ricci. Also nominated for two writing Emmys along with additional nominations for Directing and Casting. Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Narcos), executive produced by Lyle, Nickerson and fellow showrunner Jonathan Lisco. Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body, The Invitation) also executive produced and directed the pilot. Drew Comins of Creative Engine also serves as executive producer. The second season will go into production later this month in Vancouver.
Check out this episode of The Kingcast with Yellowjackets creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson discussing The Tommyknockers.
