13 Reasons Why was never really supposed to have a second season. The Netflix show is based on a book, and its title coincides nicely with the number of episodes in the first season. There were 13 episodes, and 13 reasons why Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) died by suicide. But Netflix viewers loved the show, and so it went forth with another season. This has left us very confused about the next season — would there be another death? Would Hannah Baker still be present? Would Clay (Dylan Minnette) still be the protagonist?
The second season wrapped production last week, based on Instagram evidence, which means we are finally free to probe for information on season 2.
"This season has been really interesting for a lot of reasons,” Katherine Langford, the show's star, told Entertainment Weekly in December. “It’s a different story than season 1, and I think that’s a good thing. This season we get to explore a lot more of the other characters and their journeys, which I’m excited about. As sad as it is, there is life after Hannah, and this season we get to see the effects it had on the people around her a lot more." Langford was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for her work in the first season.
Langford and her castmates — and Netflix, too — have shared as much as they can about the upcoming season. Naturally, they have to keep info to a minimum, so it's all a little cryptic. But no matter; ahead, all the information we know about 13 Reasons Why season 2.
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Hannah Baker will be "different." But she will be present.
"You see a very different Hannah in season 2," Langford said in this most recent interview with EW. "I would prepare fans not to expect the Hannah from season 1 for a multitude of reasons...I just wrapped and I think a lot of this season for me is about letting Hannah go.”
Right after Netflix announced that there would be a season 2, Brian Yorkey, the show's writer, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Hannah Baker would return for season 2.
"Hannah's story is still very much not finished," Yorkey said. "She's an integral part of whatever the next chapter of the story is, and she's very much still at the centre of it."
There will be many new characters — seven of whom have already been announced.
Variety reported in August the seven new roles that had been confirmed. Anne Winters will play an "it girl" at Liberty High; Bryce Cass will play Cyrus, a troublesome new student; Chelsea Alden will play Cyrus' older sister; Allison Miller will play a litigator; Samantha Logan will play a track star named Nina; Broadway actress Kelli O'Hara will play an advocate for victims of bullying; and Ben Lawson will play Rick, the baseball coach at Liberty High.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.Selena Gomez is still involved.
The singer and actress, who was an executive producer for the first season, attended the season 2 wrap party this year, sharing a series of photos from the event on Instagram.
"Good or bad we are committed to having the tough conversations, to telling the story that can start change," Gomez wrote in the caption.
We will meet Bryce's parents.
One of the main mysteries of the first season was the family of Bryce (Justin Prentice), the high school jock who was revealed to be Hannah Baker's rapist. Deadline reported in August that Jake Weber and Brenda Strong would portray the high schooler's parents. This implies that we'll get more information on Bryce and his life outside of Liberty High.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
The show will explore recovery.
Dylan Minnette, who plays Clay on the show, told Entertainment Tonight that the season would focus on the aftereffects of Hannah's tapes.
"It kicks off a few months after season 1," Minnette said. "This season particularly is a lot about recovery."
This doesn't mean it's all hugs and forgiveness though. He continued, "I'm sure we're all heading in some dark directions again. I think anybody would be surprised if we weren't."
In the same interview, Katherine Langford said season 2 feels like "a different show." (She added that even production feels different this time around because of interest surrounding the show.)
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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