Cruel Summer is making some massive changes in season 2 (original) (raw)

Freeform's hit show Cruel Summer is coming back for season two, but some massive changes have been made.

The series began production on its second season on Thursday (April 21), and it has been confirmed that it will feature a completely new storyline, cast and showrunner (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Sadie Stanley (The Goldbergs), newcomer Eloise Payet, Griffin Gluck (Locke & Key), KaDee Strickland (Private Practice), Lisa Yamada (All American), Sean Blakemore (Greenleaf) and Paul Adelstein (True Story) will all star in season two. Adelstein will be reuniting with his former Private Practice wife and son in Strickland and Gluck.

Freeform

Related: Olivia Holt on Cruel Summer's biggest twists and her "incredibly challenging" shoot

Elle Triedman has been named showrunner for season two and replaces Tia Napolitano in the role.

Season two will be set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest and follow the rise and fall of a teenage friendship. Similar to how season one was approached from three different timelines in the '90s, season two will do the same but from three different timelines surrounding Y2K.

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The season will track the early friendship/love triangle between Megan (Stanley), Isabella (Payet), Megan's best friend Luke (Gluck), and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.

Freeform

Although the prospect of some new faces and a new storyline is exciting, we can't help but think that some fans of the show will be feeling a little disappointed. Especially since we may not be getting any closure from that shocking cliffhanger which we were left with in the season one finale.

Season one stars Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Michael Landes, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee and Brooklyn Sudano were, however, aware of the possibility of Cruel Summer going down the anthology route in season two when they signed onto the show.

The cast was reportedly informed of the decision to reset the series with a new story as soon as a formal decision was made some time after the season one finale.

Cruel Summer airs on Freeform in the US, and Amazon Prime Video in the UK.

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Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.