"They have such amazing chemistry": Platonic creators reveal why the Apple TV+ comedy will not be an anthology moving forward 

Apple TV+ comedy Platonic has generated a lot of talk since its premiere, not only about its laugh-out-loud commentary on friendships among adults, but also about where the series will go from here. Platonic Season 2 is returning on Apple TV+ from August 6, 2025. With anthologies ruling the roost of streaming, most fans were wondering if Platonic would do the same and reboot every season. But finally, creators Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller have put an end to the rumors: Platonic is not turning into an anthology series.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the creators explained their logic in straightforward terms. Although the show has a lot of room for conceptual stretches, they feel that Platonic finds success in one key ingredient: the indomitable chemistry between leads Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Nicholas Stoller said,

"They have such amazing chemistry together, and it was such a great experience, that we decided to ask them if they would be open to doing more, and they said yes”

He added,

"And Apple, rightly so, felt like they were the show’s identity. I remember they said, ‘Who is going to want to watch a season two without them?"

Their take on Sylvia and Will, two midlife best friends reuniting has become the backbone of the show. Switching up the format to introduce new characters season to season would undermine what makes Platonic special, according to the creators.

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Platonic will stick with its original format

While anthology formats have been trending in recent years for the creative liberty they offer, the show will not be going down that path. The creators were asked directly whether they ever considered adopting a new storyline or fresh characters for future seasons. Delbanco confirmed that the show’s premise was always rooted in a continuous narrative centered on a single friendship. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she said,

"We had to blow up this neat little bow we’d originally tied at the end of the season. We had told a complete story. But it wound up being a great creative exercise — we had to figure out, one chapter of their life is over, so now what are they going to do? And through that we realized that where we first thought of the show as one snapshot of one time in their lives, we could actually tell stories about these two forever.”

Stoller reinforced this position by stating that the fundamental tension, humor, and emotional beats specifically arise from the built-up friendship between the leads. That is, it wasn't constructed as a theme to follow through with rotating characters; it was constructed as a personal, developing narrative with two individuals at its core.

The series construct just does not lend itself to the anthology design without sacrificing its emotional foundation.

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Chemistry between leads made the choice clear

Among the show's standout elements is the unashamed and genuine chemistry between Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. Delbanco explained how their comedic timing and long-standing rapport as actors played a key role in determining the tone for the show.

During the interview, she even went further to point out that their "amazing chemistry" was so central to the show that the possibility of replacing them was illogical.

The authors were careful to say that this chemistry was not an extra; it was the heartbeat of the show. Without it, Platonic wouldn't be Platonic. Fans have learned to equate the title not with theme or genre but with Sylvia and Will's messy, and strangely reassuring friendship. Swapping that out would cost the show its sense of self.

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A story designed to grow, not restart

Unlike anthology series that reboot every season, Platonic was designed to have a linear and developing track. Stoller explains that the characters aren't simply responding to individual episodes; they're developing over time. Every choice, every mistake, every epiphany is designed to lead towards something bigger. The the show format lends itself to continuity so that viewers can see the layers of a complicated, lifelong friendship.

This serialized storytelling prevents any attempt to change the show's format midstream, thus ruining that arc. Delbanco and Stoller are interested in how Sylvia and Will evolve over seasons, not how some new couple of characters might define "platonic" friendships. Their investment is in these people and how they handle adult friendship, family, emotional issues, and identity crises.

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The title Platonic is about these two people

While the show title might readily be interpreted as a catch-all term for numerous stories, the producers make it explicit that in this series, it is being used specifically to describe Sylvia and Will's relationship. They illustrate what the term does in a deeply personal, earthy manner. It is not something being done across the board seasonally.

Delbanco noted that the precision of the show's writing, comedy, and even conflict were written with these two characters in mind. It would be more than a new premise to replicate that bond. As per The Hollywood Reporter, she said,

"We were worried about likability. (Laughs) Plus, the odd-couple dynamic is what is so fun about the lead characters, that she has a family and he doesn’t."

Platonic doesn't simply illustrate a friendship; it analyzes it, makes it complex, and allows it to breathe through time. That kind of storytelling isn't amenable to a plug-and-play anthology model.

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No current plans for an anthology structure

For those who are still pinning their hopes on a format change in the future, the answer continues to be: there are no plans at the moment to convert Platonic into an anthology. The creators didn't entirely shut the door on other creative ideas in the future, but they did affirm that they're dedicated to following through with the story that they initiated.

For the time being, and into the foreseeable future, the show will remain centered on Sylvia and Will, and the particular messiness of their relationship. Delbanco and Stoller's words underscore that Platonic is not an anonymous theme waiting to be transplanted elsewhere; it is a character study. And their faith in the help of the lead performances gives them no cause to change course.

Rogen and Byrne infuse their performances with lived-in authenticity that is otherwise uncommon in comedy, and the series was constructed around that anchor.

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At its core, Platonic isn't about trying to do every iteration of non-romantic love; it's about one very particular one, and the creators are committed to it. It may be theoretically possible to do an anthology with other shows, but for Platonic, it would be an abandonment of the carefully built universe that they already have.

With the creators promising that the show will not be an anthology, the viewers can expect consistency in tone and character development. The choice reflects strong creative direction based on chemistry, long-form storytelling, and specificity of characters. It holds up the show's integrity, even if it's against the trend of the times.

Also read: Platonic Season 2 must address these 5 questions to justify the two-year-long wait