Despite Fan Demand, Netflix’s Smash Hit Adolescence Ends After One Season — Creator Explains Why

If you were hanging on to hope for a Season 2 of Netflix's award-winning Adolescence, go ahead and let that go. Director and co-creator Philip Barantini just made it official: the story is done.

So, no Season 2?

In a new chat with Deadline, Barantini put any speculation to bed. The filmmaker says there is no sequel coming, even with the show pulling in awards and a big audience. The flip side: he loves the team, and they plan to keep making stuff together — just not more Adolescence.

"For me, it's about ultimately working with good people, nice people. There is no sequel to this, but we as a collective want to continue to work together on multiple things. We captured lightning in a bottle in terms of how we shot it, but also the reach we had. That doesn't mean every project going forward can't have the same ethos."

Why this tracks

Barantini already hauled in two Emmys for this thing — Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series — which is a pretty clear signal it was conceived and celebrated as a one-and-done. Fans wanted more, sure, but creatively it sounds like they told the story they set out to tell.

The quick recap

• Director/co-creator: Philip Barantini, who won Emmys for Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
• Writers: Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne.
• Main cast: Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller; Ashley Walters as Bascombe; Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston; newcomer Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller; Faye Marsay as Misha Frank; Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller; Amelie Pease as Lisa Miller; Jo Hartley as Mrs. Fenumore; Mark Stanley as Paul Barlow; Claudius Peters as Frank.
• Producers: Executive producers include Stephen Graham, Philip Barantini, Jack Thorne, Dede Gardner, Brad Pitt, Carina Sposato, Nina Wolarsky, Emily Feller, Mark Herbert, Jeremy Kleiner, and Hannah Walters; Jo Johnson produced.
• Reception: Certified Fresh at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Bottom line

No Season 2 of Adolescence. The show did what it came to do, won big, and tapped out. The good news: the same creative crew wants to roll that energy into new projects. If they really captured lightning in a bottle, I wouldn't mind seeing where they point it next.