The smash hit “The Hunting Wives” — which Netflix licensed from Lionsgate after the show was originally designed to air at Starz — has been renewed for an eight-episode second season, the streamer has announced. The show was an immediate success on Netflix after its July 21 launch, but the renewal took some time, sources said, because its international sales had to be untangled in order for it to be a Netflix original on the global streamer. According to the announcement, the second season, from Lionsgate and 3 Arts Entertainment, “will release exclusively as a Netflix branded series in nearly all countries Netflix is available, with the original cast set to reprise their roles.”
In data provided by the streamer, the soapy drama “spent five weeks in the global English Top 10 TV list,” and amassed more than 20 million views during that time, even though it was available only in the United States.
“The Hunting Wives” revolves around Texan queen bee Margo (Malin Åkerman) and town newcomer Sophie (Brittany Snow), and the crimes they’ve gotten themselves involved in — as they also carry on a torrid affair. Season 1 ended on a huge cliffhanger (literally!): Sophie pushed Margo’s brother Kyle’s body off a cliff into a river, but had accidentally answered a call from Margo on Kyle’s phone. Lots to resolve! A new Season 2 logline teases their reunion: “At the start of Season 2, Sophie and Margo are on the outs. But soon enough, old secrets and new foes force them back together. As they play their dangerous games the question arises. Are they the hunters or the hunted?”
“The Hunting Wives” was adapted by “Hightown” creator Rebecca Cutter from May Cobb’s 2021 novel of the same name, and the second season will continue its story. In Variety‘s review of the show, Alison Herman praised it for its satirical culture-war elements, writing, “‘The Hunting Wives’ is a tale of red state-blue state culture clash, a premise that remains its most interesting element even after a dead body disrupts the proceedings.”
In an interview with Variety in July, Åkerman speculated about what a second season might entail, since Margo ended up being kicked out of her house by Jed (Dermot Mulroney), her ultra-rich husband who’s running for governor. “I think it’ll have to be Margo and Sophie banding together to cover up the murder, and Margo reconciling with Jed. Especially if he goes on this political trail, he’s going to want the image to be right,” Åkerman said. “So I think she has something to gain there where she can come back to him and say, ‘Listen, I’ll stand by your side, and I’ll be the good little wife and do everything that you ask me to do. Just let me back in!’ Because I don’t think she wants to lose that lifestyle or that position of power.”
Several main characters died iconic deaths in Season 1, but returning for the second season are Snow, Åkerman, Mulroney, Jaime Ray Newman, Evan Jonigkeit and George Ferrier.
In a statement, Cutter said, “I’m so excited to write these amazing characters again, and I can’t wait to take the audience on another sexy, twisted, batshit crazy ride through Maple Brook.” Cutter is currently developing another Netflix project with Jerry Bruckheimer Televsion, and is repped by CAA, Artists Collective and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.
Cutter, Cobb and Erwin Stoff for 3 Arts Entertainment are executive producers.
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