Everything to Know So Far About ‘Succession’ Season 4

Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO

Everything to Know So Far About ‘Succession’ Season 4

Plotting their next move. Fans were left on the edge of their seats after season 3 of Succession wrapped up with a familiar face shaking things up for the Roy siblings and their future at Waystar Royco. The third season's finale aired in December 2021 and ended with Shiv Roy (played by Sarah Snook) realizing that her husband, Tom Wambsgans (played by Matthew Macfadyen), betrayed her by reporting to her father, Logan Roy (played Brian Cox). This revelation came after Shiv and her brothers Kendall Roy (played by Jeremy Strong) and Roman Roy (played by Kieran Culkin) failed to stop Logan from selling the family company, Waystar Royco. The crafty CEO changed the rules of the game by enlisting the trio's mother, Caroline Collingwood (Harriet Mary Walter), to help him remove their right to a super-majority vote. Following the bombshell conclusion, some viewers are already speculating there may be more surprises in store for the new season — including a potential Shiv pregnancy. After getting his big moment, Macfadyen opened up about how his story line came to be. "We had a conversation early on before we started shooting, which outlined a possible scenario for the end. It’s a funny one, I listened to it, then forgot about it, because things might change, and whatever they want to do is great," he said during an interview with Deadline in December 2021. "I wasn’t hanging my hat on it, and I was just waiting for the script to come in." Tom's switch came as a shock to Shiv, but the U.K. native added that the decision was a long time coming for his character. "It’s an accumulation — it’s a pivot by a thousand cuts. From the very beginning, he’s had to take a lot. [Shiv] speaks of an open marriage on their wedding night — it hasn’t been an easy ride for Tom, he’s had to take a lot of s--t from the brothers and from his father-in-law and everybody," Macfadyen shared. "And then there’s the real terror of potential jail time. I think something flipped. But when I read the last episode, I was like, ‘This makes sense.’" Ahead of the season 3 finale, Cox noted that while there are endless possibilities for where the Roy saga can go, the HBO Max show likely won't last forever. "I would say possibly two more series and then I think we're done. But it just depends and may just be only one more series. It depends what the writers feel. I know they've got an endgame. They haven't told us what the ending is, but there is an endgame," the Braveheart star told GQ UK in October 2021. "So it's just how they get up to that endgame, whether it takes one series or two series. I think it's going to be hard to let go of it this early. I think it needs a couple more series before it really comes to a culmination. That's my feeling. Because its iconic nature is just hitting, I think people are going to want two more series, but they may only get one." Creator Jesse Armstrong knew exactly how the story will conclude before it was officially announced that season 4 would be the last. "I have a pitch for where and how I think we end. It’s not immutable in respect to my colleagues, we’ll chat about it and how many seasons that plays out over," he told Deadline in December 2021. "Similarly I have a pitch, I don’t want to say in public as it will take away a little bit of the fun and I want to check in with all the important people around the show to see if we all feel the same." While discussing possible futures for the main characters, the screenwriter added that it wouldn't be out of the question to see the Roy siblings find some peace for themselves. "We follow some iron rules of the show which are to try and make it feel close to the truth of a media organization of this size and structure and the psychology of people like this, and the people we created. But within that, I’d refer you again to the writers’ room — I would never exclude a possibility such as that," Armstrong said at the time. "Yeah, the world is an extraordinary thing and I would never exclude a possibility like that [but] given where they’ve come from, it sounds like it might be a stretch. But lots of things are a stretch. The way I approach the show is to test those hypothesis against reality and where they are, without making too early firm decisions." Scroll down for everything to know about season 4 of Succession: [podcast_block]

Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO

Everything to Know So Far About ‘Succession’ Season 4

Plotting their next move. Fans were left on the edge of their seats after season 3 of Succession wrapped up with a familiar face shaking things up for the Roy siblings and their future at Waystar Royco. The third season's finale aired in December 2021 and ended with Shiv Roy (played by Sarah Snook) realizing that her husband, Tom Wambsgans (played by Matthew Macfadyen), betrayed her by reporting to her father, Logan Roy (played Brian Cox). This revelation came after Shiv and her brothers Kendall Roy (played by Jeremy Strong) and Roman Roy (played by Kieran Culkin) failed to stop Logan from selling the family company, Waystar Royco. The crafty CEO changed the rules of the game by enlisting the trio's mother, Caroline Collingwood (Harriet Mary Walter), to help him remove their right to a super-majority vote. Following the bombshell conclusion, some viewers are already speculating there may be more surprises in store for the new season — including a potential Shiv pregnancy. After getting his big moment, Macfadyen opened up about how his story line came to be. "We had a conversation early on before we started shooting, which outlined a possible scenario for the end. It’s a funny one, I listened to it, then forgot about it, because things might change, and whatever they want to do is great," he said during an interview with Deadline in December 2021. "I wasn’t hanging my hat on it, and I was just waiting for the script to come in." Tom's switch came as a shock to Shiv, but the U.K. native added that the decision was a long time coming for his character. "It’s an accumulation — it’s a pivot by a thousand cuts. From the very beginning, he’s had to take a lot. [Shiv] speaks of an open marriage on their wedding night — it hasn’t been an easy ride for Tom, he’s had to take a lot of s--t from the brothers and from his father-in-law and everybody," Macfadyen shared. "And then there’s the real terror of potential jail time. I think something flipped. But when I read the last episode, I was like, ‘This makes sense.’" Ahead of the season 3 finale, Cox noted that while there are endless possibilities for where the Roy saga can go, the HBO Max show likely won't last forever. "I would say possibly two more series and then I think we're done. But it just depends and may just be only one more series. It depends what the writers feel. I know they've got an endgame. They haven't told us what the ending is, but there is an endgame," the Braveheart star told GQ UK in October 2021. "So it's just how they get up to that endgame, whether it takes one series or two series. I think it's going to be hard to let go of it this early. I think it needs a couple more series before it really comes to a culmination. That's my feeling. Because its iconic nature is just hitting, I think people are going to want two more series, but they may only get one." Creator Jesse Armstrong knew exactly how the story will conclude before it was officially announced that season 4 would be the last. "I have a pitch for where and how I think we end. It’s not immutable in respect to my colleagues, we’ll chat about it and how many seasons that plays out over," he told Deadline in December 2021. "Similarly I have a pitch, I don’t want to say in public as it will take away a little bit of the fun and I want to check in with all the important people around the show to see if we all feel the same." While discussing possible futures for the main characters, the screenwriter added that it wouldn't be out of the question to see the Roy siblings find some peace for themselves. "We follow some iron rules of the show which are to try and make it feel close to the truth of a media organization of this size and structure and the psychology of people like this, and the people we created. But within that, I’d refer you again to the writers’ room — I would never exclude a possibility such as that," Armstrong said at the time. "Yeah, the world is an extraordinary thing and I would never exclude a possibility like that [but] given where they’ve come from, it sounds like it might be a stretch. But lots of things are a stretch. The way I approach the show is to test those hypothesis against reality and where they are, without making too early firm decisions." Scroll down for everything to know about season 4 of Succession: [podcast_block]

Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO

When Does 'Succession' Come Back?

HBO announced in January 2023 that season 4 will premiere on Sunday, March 26.

Credit: Graeme Hunter/HBO

What Happens After That Plot Twist?

Armstrong teased to Deadline that Tom's decision to side with Logan isn't "necessarily the end of the story."

In June 2022, HBO revealed a synopsis for the fourth season as production began. "In the ten-episode season four, the sale of media conglomerate Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsson moves ever closer," the logline reads. "The prospect of this seismic sale provokes existential angst and familial division among the Roys as they anticipate what their lives will look like once the deal is completed. A power struggle ensues as the family weighs up a future where their cultural and political weight is severely curtailed."

Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO

Will Tom and Greg's Relationship Be Explored More?

After viewers started to question whether there were romantic undertones in the scenes between Greg (Nicholas Braun) and Tom, Macfadyen told Deadline that even his character isn't sure of his feelings.

"I think Tom really likes Greg. In many ways, Greg is the one he has the healthiest relationship with. They know they shouldn’t trust each other. Tom likes the idea of being some sort of mentor, and likes the back and forth and treat him as a punchbag and therapist. I don’t have all the answers as Matthew and I don’t think Tom does," the Pride and Prejudice star explained. "Tom winds up going to Greg a lot of time for solace and the Nero and Sporus story. They’re quite openly venal, and quite openly ambitious. They say, ‘We can’t trust each other, but let’s stick together.’ In many ways, [their relationship] is quite healthier than him and Shiv."

Credit: Graeme Hunter/HBO

Is There an End in Sight?

During an interview with The New Statesman in September 2021, Armstrong revealed that Succession won't go on forever.

“There’s going to be a very definite moment when that story is over,” he noted. “And it can’t go on too long. I think there’ll be an end for me in this incarnation of the show in ... a bit.”

Credit: Macall B. Polay/ HBO

Has Filming Started?

Yes, production on Succession season 4 started on June 27, 2022.

Alan Ruck, who plays Connor Roy, previously teased to Variety in February 2022 that season 4 production would kick off at "the end of June." The Ferris Bueller's Day Off star added, "I wish I could tell you more than that. All I know is there's definitely a season 4, there may be a season 5. ... We'll have a read-through in early June [of] maybe the first two scripts and we'll get them at, like, midnight the night before."

Creator Jesse Armstrong revealed at the 2022 BAFTA TV awards that he and the writers were "nearly done" with season 4. "They're a really great group of people to talk about the nuances of character and the world and what we're doing on the show," he told Variety about the team in May 2022, before revealing that he will share the scripts with the cast before filming to get their input. "It's useful. They're smart and they think things about their characters."

Credit: James Gillham/Shutterstock

Is There a 'Succession' Season 4 Trailer?

The first new footage debuted in October 2022. The trailer refers to the siblings as "the rebel alliance." 

A full-length teaser dropped in March 2023. "I love you, but you are not serious people," Logan seemingly tells his children, as Cousin Greg hints to Tom that there's a "kill list" within the company. 

Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron) goes on to reveal: "We've been schooled by a barbarian that goes by the name Logan Roy."

Credit: HBO

Which Cast Members Are Returning?

In August 2022, Deadline reported that in addition to the Roy family and their close confidants, Dagmara Domińczyk, who played the Waystar Royco head PR and legal team member Karolina Novotney, will return as a series regular.

Also coming back to the lineup are recurring stars Alexander Skarsgård, whose tech CEO Lukas Mattson played an important role in season 3, and Arian Moayed, as Kendall's frenemy Stewy Hosseini.

Juliana Canfield is also making her return as Kendall's assistant, Jess Jordan, along with Annabelle Dexter-Jones as his love interest, Naomi Pierce. Cherry Jones is reprising her season 2 role as the Pierce family matriarch, Nan.

Credit: HBO/Kobal/Shutterstock

What Does the Cast Think of ‘Succession’ Season 4?

When asked to describe the upcoming episodes, Braun told The Hollywood Reporter that season 4 is a “banger.” 

“Absolute banger,” he gushed. “Fire season.”

Credit: Youtube

A New Teaser

An official trailer for season 4 — released in January 2023 — shows the Roy siblings plotting against their father.

"It’s a tightrope walk on a straight razor… 500-foot reputational drop,” Kendall says in the clip.

Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO

Will Season 4 Be the Final Season of 'Succession?'

Armstrong revealed in February 2023 that the hit series will come to a close with season 4. 

“It’s been a bit tortured, and I felt unexpectedly nervous about talking to you because it’s all theoretical until this point,” he told The New Yorker at the time. “You know, there’s a promise in the title of Succession. I’ve never thought this could go on forever.”

The England native added that he felt “conflicted” about the show ending. “I feel sad, and I have the-circus-has-left-town feeling that everyone gets who works on a production that’s good, and this one particularly so,” he explained. “I imagine I’ll be a little bit lonely, and wandering the streets of London in a funk, and wondering, ‘What the f—k did I do?’ I’ll probably be calling you up in about six months asking if people are ready for a reboot.” 

Credit: Macall Polay/HBO

How Did Sarah Snook React to the Final Season News?

The Australia native opened up about how she learned that the HBO series was coming to an end while at the final table read.

“I was very upset,” she admitted to the L.A. Times in March 2023. “I felt a huge sense of loss, disappointment and sadness. It would have been nice to know at the beginning of the season, but I also understand not being told until the end because there was still a potential that maybe this wasn’t going to be the end.”

She continued: “Emotionally, all of us weren’t necessarily ready to be done with the show because we love each other so much. But everything has to come to an end, and it’s smart not to let something become a parody of itself.”

Credit: Graeme Hunter/HBO

A Thrilling Ending

Strong gave fans a tease of what they can expect from the final season's conclusion. "Certainly, there's an awareness on the periphery that this is it, but in a way there's no room for that," the actor told Entertainment Weekly in March 2023. "You can't both be saying goodbye to a television show and be doing what you need to do at the same time – or I can't. I will say that the final episode, the culmination of everything, where Jesse really brings everything to its crisis, was like a double black diamond to go down. That's what you want as an actor, and so that was incredibly fulfilling."