Cruel Summer season 2 will feature a new mystery and cast

cast of cruel summer season 2 in the police department

(Image credit: Freeform)

last updated 15 May 2023

Wave goodbye to Kate and Jeanette. Cruel Summer season 2 will look a lot different than the series debut.

Though fans were engrossed with the goings-on in Skylin, Texas, even so much as predicting Cruel Summer theories for the next installment, it looks like the teen mystery is going to start from scratch when it returns to screens in 2023. Viewers can expect a new cast, storyline and even showrunner in the sophomore installment.

Curious what's ahead? Allow us to give you the scoop.

'Cruel Summer' season 2: what you need to know

Nostalgia 2000s incoming! Cruel Summer will revisit one of our favorite decades and give us a love triangle to boot.

According to a synopsis of the show, "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."

We loved the Bridgerton love triangle, but something tells us we're not going to get a happily-ever-after this time around.

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Who's in the 'Cruel Summer' season 2 cast?

Chiara Aurelia (Jeanette) and Olivia Holt (Kate) are not expected to return, though originally we expected to see Holt again. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the season one cast was made aware of the possible changes, so nothing came as a surprise. At this time, the only recurring character is Paul Adelstein.

The new cast is as follows:

Sadie Stanley
Lisa Yamada
Griffin Gluck
KaDee Strickland
Lisa Yamada
Sean Blakemore

Elle Triedman is expected to step into the role of showrunner. The studio eOne project will be executive produced by Bill Purple, Napolitano, and Iron Ocean Productions’ Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple.

When will 'Cruel Summer' season 2 premiere?

The show will make a return to Freeform on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 9pm ET. New episodes arrive weekly on Mondays at 10pm ET.

Is there a 'Cruel Summer' season 2 trailer?

"To my best friend I could ever ask for—my ultimate ride or die." That's definitely not a phrase that should be taken lightly in this series.

We catch a sneak peek of how a body is found in the lake after an exchange student arrives to town, and two best friends are forced to "get their stories straight." They say there are two sides to every secret, but what about the truth?

We'll find out what happens shortly. In the meantime, sink your teeth into another mystery series, like Saint X on Hulu or City on Fire on AppleTV+.

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.

Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few.

When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.