‘Cruel Summer’ Season 2: Everything We Know So Far About Freeform’s Anthology Series

Credit: Freeform/Frank Ockenfels

'Cruel Summer' Season 2: Everything We Know So Far About Freeform's Anthology Series

After Cruel Summer became a fan favorite on Freeform, it got a quick renewal — leaving audiences craving for more. The series debuted in April 2021 and told a story over three years: 1993, 1994 and 1995. It followed Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), who was kidnapped and later rescued, and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia), who was accused of knowing the whereabouts of the missing girl. Although several original cast members teased their hopes for the upcoming season, Freeform later announced that the show would become an anthology series. In April 2022, the network confirmed that season 2 would include a new cast and showrunner Elle Triedman. Instead, season 2 will introduce new characters at the center of a love triangle. "Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twists and turns as it tracks the early friendship between Megan, Isabella and Megan’s best friend Luke, the love triangle that blossomed, and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward," a synopsis for the sophomore season read. Scroll down for everything we know so far about season 2 of Cruel Summer:

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Who Is in the New Cast?

Sadie Stanley, Griffin Gluck, KaDee Strickland, Sean Blakemore, Paul Adelstein and Lisa Yamada will be joining the anthology series for its next season.

Eloise Payet, who was previously cast in the role of Isabella, was later replaced with Lexi Underwood.

Credit: Freeform/Justine Yeung

What Is the Next Story Line?

According to the synopsis, season 2 will be set "in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest" as the show explores "the rise and fall" of an intense teenage friendship.

Credit: Justine Yeung/Freeform

When Will Season 2 Air?

The hit series will return with its sophomore season on June 5.

Credit: Freeform/Frank Ockenfels

What Has Freeform Teased About the Show's Return?

In January 2023, Freeform released the first look at the show's new ensemble cast.

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Has a Trailer Been Released?

Yes. Freeform debuted the season 2 trailer (which you can watch above) on May 8. The teaser gives a first look at the new group of friends navigating a mystery that will “impact all of their lives forever” over three different timelines surrounding Y2K.

Credit: Freeform/Justine Yeung

What Can Fans Expect From Season 2 of 'Cruel Summer'?

"Each episode is kind of set up so you're suspicious of somebody new and you're left with a new piece of information to mull over in between," Stanley exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2023. "I would just say don't trust any of the characters. It's not as simple as who did it. It's all about how we got to this point and what led to it. Not everybody is who they seem."

Credit: Freeform/Justine Yeung

What Stories Will Get Explored Throughout Season 2?

In June 2023, Underwood hinted at the surprises awaiting viewers, telling Us, "I think another big mystery — just like the mystery of Luke's death — is who a lot of those characters are deep down. [There's a] mask that they're putting on to hide everything that they are internally going through throughout all those three different timelines."

She added: "So you definitely have to keep your eye open and understand that everyone is trying to take control of their own destiny and with that things get messy and a little bit selfish."

Credit: Freeform/Justine Yeung

What Does the Cast Know About the Season 2 Ending?

“What ran through my head [reading the finale script] is, ‘There are answers. We have an answer, thank you very much!’ But what's great is they did not shoot just one ending,” Strickland exclusively told Us in July 2023. “I haven't seen the final episode for that reason. I want to do it in real-time with the audience. I think that's so much more fun. And that was the experience I had with Private Practice and particularly with something like this, I think it's so much better to savor every episode and be surprised.”

She added: “When we watch it, there's scenes that we filmed that aren't in the show. Whether they were necessary or not, the final edit is different than what I read or filmed, sometimes. And that's also great. I mean, that's part of the joy of doing this. I need to be the audience too sometimes when the story’s this compelling.”

Credit: Freeform/Justine Yeung

Will Season 2 Connect Back to Season 1?

In June 2023, executive producer Michelle Purple hinted at an Easter Egg which would connect the seasons.

“We took into big consideration [that] people really loved the cast in season 1 and were connected to them,” she told TVLine at the time. “We actually opened up a room and discussed, ‘What does it look like to continue both these girls’ stories or one of these girl's stories?' We’re playing in the same world [during season 2] in the sense of it’s just a few years later. So there’s a tie to season 1, but we’re not going to tell you [what it is]! You guys have to find it!”

Viewers have to look out for the clue in the season 2 finale, which airs July 2023.