At a Glance
- Stephen Graham confirms backstage at 2026 Golden Globes that Adolescence season 2 is “in the works”
- The four-part limited series became Netflix’s most-viewed show in first-half 2025 and won eight Emmys
- Writer Jack Thorne says next chapter will not center on Jamie Miller, calling his story “finished”
Why it matters: Fans of the one-shot crime drama can expect a new story within the same format, but face a three-to-four-year wait.
Netflix’s breakout British crime drama Adolescence is quietly moving toward a second season. The March 2025 limited series, filmed entirely in single-take episodes, dominated awards season and now has its creative team plotting a return-just not with the character that made it famous.
Globe-Winning Night Hints at Renewal
Backstage at the 2026 Golden Globes, co-creator and star Stephen Graham fielded questions about continuing the story. When pressed, he told Deadline: “I cannot answer that question because it’s somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind and Jack’s mind, and we’ll pull it out in three or four years, so stay tuned.” The comment marks the first public indication that a follow-up is actively being discussed.
The remark arrived minutes after Graham won Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology or TV Movie. The same night, Owen Cooper became the youngest winner ever in the supporting-actor category at age 16, while Erin Doherty claimed the supporting-actress trophy.
Viewers and Voters Fell Hard
Netflix never released official viewership, but The Hollywood Reporter labeled Adolescence the platform’s most-watched series for the first six months of 2025. The show later collected 13 Emmy nominations and converted eight into wins, including the top prize for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
Plan B Entertainment, the production company behind the project, began floating ideas for continuation as early as April 2025. Co-president Dede Gardner told Deadline the goal for any new installment would be to “widen the aperture, stay true to its DNA [and] not be repetitive.”
Jamie Miller’s Story Is Closed
Writer and co-creator Jack Thorne has already shut the door on further exploration of Jamie Miller, the 13-year-old boy whose arrest for murder drives season 1.
“Our aim was to try and tell Jamie’s story as fully as we possibly could,” Thorne said during a March 2025 interview on ITV’s This Morning, per The Independent. “I think Jamie’s story is finished. I don’t think there’s anywhere more we can take Jamie, so I don’t think there is a series two.”
Thorne added that the creative team “would love to explore the one-shot format in another way” and “tell other stories with it,” suggesting future episodes will retain the technical approach while focusing on fresh characters.
What Comes Next
No cast, plot, or release date has been set. Graham’s reference to a three-or-four-year timeline indicates scripts are not yet written and filming remains a long way off. In a March 2025 Variety conversation, Graham echoed the interest in a new narrative: “There’s the possibility of developing another story.”
Hannah Walters-Graham’s wife, producing partner, and Adolescence costar-ruled out a prequel, telling Variety, “That’s certainly not going to happen.” She added, “There’s so much mileage in the one-shot [format] and so much mileage in investing into human nature again and looking at something else.”
Where to Watch Now
Season 1 remains available exclusively on Netflix. The four episodes run roughly 60-75 minutes each and were shot to look like continuous single takes, a technique that became a major part of the show’s critical appeal.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix has not issued a formal renewal, but the creative principals are actively developing ideas
- Expect an anthology approach: same filmmaking style, new characters and storyline
- Production is unlikely to begin before 2028, based on Graham’s own estimate
- All prior cast members, including breakout star Owen Cooper, could return in different roles or make way for an entirely new ensemble
