Adolescence Just Scored Big at the Emmys: Is Season 2 With Owen Cooper in the Works After Its Huge Success?

Netflix's Adolescence has quickly become one of the defining shows of the year.

Since its March release, the four-part drama has sparked conversations around knife crime, misogyny, and the impact of online incel culture, drawing in over 140 million viewers in just three months.

Now, after the show's stunning sweep at the Emmys, including historic wins for its 15-year-old lead Owen Cooper, fans are asking the question: Is Season 2 on the horizon?

Will There Be a Season 2 of Adolescence?

As of now, Netflix has not officially renewed the series. However, the conversation and demand to bring back one of the UK's biggest TV hits on the streaming platform were never off the charts.

The streamer continues to list Adolescence as a four-part limited series, but that label hasn't stopped other shows from expanding. If we go through some past shows of Netflix, 13 Reasons Why and The Watcher were both renewed despite starting as 'limited' stories. Similarly, Adolescence could follow the same path if demand proves strong enough.

Furthermore, the option to transform the show from a limited series to an anthology is always on the cards. Shows like Ryan Murphy's Monster or The White Lotus are examples where a new plot, setting, and cast are introduced to viewers with each season. Hence, Adolescence's creator might follow the trend.

Meanwhile, Production company Plan B confirmed back in April that 'early conversations' about a potential continuation had already taken place, according to Deadline. According to reports, the studio is speaking with director Philip Barantini about the potential shape of a 'next iteration'.

What Would 'Adolescence' Season 2 Be About?

If renewed, Season 2 would likely move beyond Jamie's story. Both Graham and co-creator Jack Thorne have described the project as a mirror of how young men are shaped by peer pressure, misogynistic online spaces, and social media. Thorne revealed he went 'very, very deep' into incel forums during research and was shocked by how young some participants were.

That groundwork suggests any follow-up could expand the lens to explore radicalisation in new geographies or contexts.

At the same time, critics have warned against romanticising the series's social commentary. Some researchers argue the show exaggerates certain knife-crime patterns, pointing out that under-16 female victims are statistically rare in official UK crime data.

However, whether Season 2 doubles down on its cautionary symbolism or attempts to reflect more statistical realism is one of the big creative questions ahead.

What Else Do We Know About 'Adolescence' Season 2?

Early signs suggest the core team would return if Season 2 moves forward. Director Philip Barantini is expected to stay on, and both Graham and Thorne have indicated their willingness to continue collaborating. Meanwhile, the creators also remain vocal about the urgent real-world issues the show addresses.

Just last spring, Thorne told The Guardian that he believes smartphones should be restricted for under-16s, comparing their dangers to cigarettes, because of the role unfiltered content plays in radicalising teenagers.

The show's ripple effect has even reached British politics, with debates about toxic masculinity and misogynistic violence appearing in Parliament discussions.

If a second season emerges, it's likely to lean into this fusion of storytelling and activism, blurring the line between TV drama and social intervention.

Owen Cooper's Emmy Win

One reason the show has captured so much attention is Owen Cooper, who stunned audiences with his raw performance as Jamie Miller. At just 15, he became the youngest ever Emmy winner for Best Supporting Actor in a limited series. His rise from drama classes in England to an Emmy stage in Los Angeles is the kind of story that only amplifies the show's momentum.

Whether Cooper would return for a second season remains uncertain. With Jamie's storyline closed, the actor's involvement may hinge on whether the show follows an anthology model. Still, his breakout success ensures that any conversation about Season 2 will most likely include his name.

Meanwhile, Cooper is making his motion picture debut alongside Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights.