Is Cruel Summer renewed for Season 3? Details explored

The drama series Cruel Summer is on its way back into development. According to Variety, Hulu and Freeform have a third season in the works. It’s a shift that pulls the show out of its post-2023 cancellation pause and places it again alongside some of the people who were part of its early creative foundation.

The announcement follows a period when the series existed only through rewatch opportunities on streaming platforms. While the first season remained a consistent talking point among viewers, no movement toward new episodes had been made public until now. The current update brings both the network and the streaming service back into the same conversation that surrounded the show’s original success.

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Olivia Holt to reprise role as Kate Wallis

One of the clearest updates regarding Cruel Summer is the confirmation that Olivia Holt is back. She will once again take on the role of Kate Wallis, the character placed at the center of the show’s first season. In this new chapter, her name will also appear in the credits as an executive producer.

Her recent work includes the Peacock comedy Laid and a notable stage appearance in 2023, joining Broadway’s Chicago as Roxie Hart. These projects add to a résumé that also features earlier television roles, including her time on Freeform’s Cloak & Dagger.

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New creative team in place

Season 3 of Cruel Summer will not be led by the same team that guided the first or second seasons. Cori Uchida and Adam Lash have been appointed as showrunners and will also serve as executive producers. Their past work spans different genres and networks, with credits on Roswell, New Mexico, Altered Carbon, Parish and The Thing About Pam.

Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple will remain involved as executive producers through Iron Ocean Productions. Lionsgate Television is still attached as the studio responsible for delivering the series.

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Background and changes over time

Cruel Summer was created by Bert V. Royal and premiered in 2021. At launch, it quickly became the most-watched show in Freeform’s history. The first season built its story around two characters, Kate Wallis and Jeanette Turner, and presented their intersecting experiences over three consecutive summers. The narrative moved between these timelines to slowly reveal events linked to Kate’s disappearance and the public accusations faced by Jeanette.

After its initial run, the series was renewed but altered its approach. The second season adopted an anthology format. It introduced a new cast, a different setting, and a separate storyline, along with a change in the showrunner role. Royal had exited the production after the pilot episode of Season 1 due to creative differences, though his credit as creator and executive producer remained.

Season 2 unfolded around the time leading into the year 2000. Despite maintaining a three-timeline structure, its reception was not as strong as that of the debut season. In 2023, Freeform confirmed that the series would not return at that time.

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Cast from past seasons

In its first season of Cruel Summer, the cast list featured Chiara Aurelia, Michael Landes, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee, and Brooklyn Sudano. The story moved back and forth between three summers, tracing what happened after Kate went missing and showing how the view of Jeanette’s possible involvement shifted over time.

When the second season arrived, the names had all changed. Sadie Stanley, Griffin Gluck, Eloise Payet, Lisa Yamada, Sean Blakemore, and KaDee Strickland took over the main roles. The plot turned to the friendship linking Megan, Isabella, and Luke, adding in romantic tensions and a mystery that connected them all. Like before, the timeline is split into three parts to tell the full story.

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Status of the third season of Cruel Summer

Details on the upcoming plot have not been shared. What has been confirmed is the return of Holt, the involvement of Uchida and Lash in leadership roles, and the continued participation of Biel, Purple, Iron Ocean Productions, and Lionsgate Television.

No filming start date has been announced. There is also no confirmed release window from Hulu or Freeform. The information available so far identifies the main production team and the lead actor, but does not outline further casting or story elements.

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Position in the series timeline

The move to develop another season comes after a significant pause and a history of creative shifts. The debut season’s structure and characters contributed to its record-setting performance for Freeform. The second season, by contrast, changed the format and ensemble, marking a clear separation from the first chapter.

With production now active again, the third season enters planning with a mix of returning and newly appointed creative figures. Variety’s reporting lists only those names and roles confirmed by the studios and producers.

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Summary of confirmed facts

Season 3 of Cruel Summer is officially in development at Hulu and Freeform. Olivia Holt will return as Kate Wallis and will also be an executive producer. Cori Uchida and Adam Lash are the incoming showrunners and executive producers. Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple continue in executive roles for Iron Ocean Productions, and Lionsgate Television remains the producing studio. The series was created by Bert V. Royal, who left after the pilot episode of Season 1 but retained creator and executive producer credits.

Season 1, which set audience records for Freeform, starred Chiara Aurelia alongside Holt and other cast members. Season 2 was set near the year 2000 and starred Sadie Stanley, Griffin Gluck, and a new ensemble. That season did not match the reception of the first and preceded the show’s cancellation in 2023. No release date or storyline details have been announced for the upcoming season.