Paramount+ in the UK has announced two new additions to the cast of Yellowjackets for the upcoming second season. As the series heads in to its second season the adult versions of Van and Lottie will join the cast with two very familiar faces taking on the roles.
Two-time Emmy and Tony nominee Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under, Servant) is joining the highly anticipated second season in a series regular role as the adult version of Van. In addition, Simone Kessell (Obi-Wan Kenobi) is joining the cast as Adult Lottie Matthews.
Ambrose starred for five seasons in the critically-acclaimed drama Six Feet Under, which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She can currently be seen in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller series Servant, for which she received a Critics Choice Award nomination.
A New Zealand native, Kessell can currently be seen opposite Ewan McGregor in Obi-Wan Kenobi as Breha Organa, mother to Princess Leia as a child. Previous television credits include a recurring role in Taika Watiti’s Our Flag Means Death, as well as Reckoning, The Crossing, Of Kings and Prophets and Terra Nova.
In addition, Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Diet) who plays the teen version of Van and Courtney Eaton (Mad Max: Fury Road), who plays the teen version of Lottie, have been upped to series regular in season two.
Yellowjackets is nominated for seven Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress for Melanie Lynskey and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Christina Ricci. Yellowjackets was also nominated for two writing Emmys and earned additional noms for Directing and Casting. Season one averaged over 5 million weekly viewers across platforms. Produced by studio Entertainment One (eOne), the series will go into production later this month in Vancouver.
Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, Yellowjackets is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.
Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Narcos), Yellowjackets stars Emmy nominee and Critics Choice Award winner Melanie Lynskey (Castle Rock), Oscar® and Emmy nominee Juliette Lewis (Camping), Emmy nominee Christina Ricci (Z: The Beginning of Everything) and Tawny Cypress (Unforgettable).
Season one also starred Ella Purnell (Sweetbitter), Samantha Hanratty (SHAMELESS), Sophie Thatcher (Prospect), Jasmin Savoy Brown (The Leftovers), Sophie Nélisse (The Book Thief), Steven Krueger (The Originals) and Warren Kole (Shades of Blue). Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Diet) who plays the teen version of Van, has been upped to series regular in season two.
Yellowjackets is executive produced by Lyle, Nickerson and fellow showrunner Jonathan Lisco. Karyn Kusama also executive produced and directed the pilot. Drew Comins of Creative Engine also serves as executive producer.
