Picture Credit: Netflix
Well, that didn’t take long! Just 24 hours after our latest update on The Watcher Season 2 was finally gearing up for production, Netflix has officially pulled back the curtain, confirming the hit thriller series is indeed coming back with some key new castings, which tears apart our theory from yesterday.
In a newly released press release, Netflix confirmed that production is getting underway this Fall in New York. However, while our production timeline and crew coverage were spot on, Netflix dropped a massive bombshell about the cast that completely upends what we thought we knew about the plot and that it’s not an anthology.
Let’s break down the official news, looking at what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we’re still waiting to hear about.
What We Got Right
First, let’s pat ourselves on the back for a moment. As we reported yesterday, the cameras are officially rolling this Fall, and filming is indeed taking place in New York.
We also nailed the creative team. Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan are back as creators and executive producers, with the PR officially dubbing Brennan as the Showrunner for season 2.
Furthermore, our intel on the expansive executive producing team was largely correct. Naomi Watts has officially been elevated to Executive Producer, alongside returning EPs Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman, Eric Newman, and Bryan Unkeless. Our sources also correctly pinpointed Karl Frankenfield and Tanase Popa’s heavy involvement, who are now officially credited as EPs as well. (The official PR also adds Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Nissa Diederich, Scott Robertson, and Todd Kubrak to the EP roster).
What We Got Wrong: The Brannocks Are Back!
Pictures courtesy of Netflix / IMDb
Here is where Netflix threw us a massive curveball.
Yesterday, based on casting grids and loglines, we suggested that season 2 was pivoting to a total anthology format—leaving the Brannock family behind in favor of a new storyline centered around a terrifying college fraternity.
That’s not accurate, though, as the Brannocks are not done.
Netflix’s official announcement explicitly states that the core season 1 cast is returning. Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale will reprise their roles as Nora and Dean Brannock. Also returning are Margo Martindale as the neighborhood busybody Maureen (“Mo”) and Isabel Gravitt as the Brannocks’ teenage daughter, Ellie Brannock.
Connecting the Dots: What We’re Still Waiting to Hear
So, how does a college fraternity storyline fit into the continuing saga of the Brannock family? We have a pretty strong theory.
Given that Isabel Gravitt is returning as Ellie Brannock, it’s highly likely she is heading off to college. If Ellie is a freshman, it perfectly aligns with the casting breakdown we scooped yesterday for “Jane,” a sweet-faced college freshman whose night turns into absolute terror. Will Ellie get tangled up with Raj the pledge and Stash the “douchey” frat bro? Are the Brannocks moving to a college town to escape the trauma of their dream home, only to be stalked by a new Watcher on campus?
While we wait to see how the frat storyline weaves into the Brannock family drama, there are a few other things we’re keeping an eye out for:
Will the rest of the neighborhood return? There is no mention yet of Jennifer Coolidge (Karen Calhoun), Richard Kind (Mitch), or Mia Farrow (Pearl).
A Massive Slate for Murphy and Netflix
It’s no surprise Netflix is eager to get The Watcher back on our screens. The streamer used today’s announcement to flex just how massive their drama and true-crime slates have become.
Per Netflix, Season 1 of The Watcher spent 5 weeks on the Global Top 10 English TV list, hitting the top 10 in over 90 countries. Meanwhile, Murphy’s Monster franchise remains an absolute juggernaut. Netflix noted that the Monster franchise has surpassed 320M views across its seasons, with the currently airing fourth installment, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, already racking up 26.6M views and dominating the #1 spot globally.
We will keep you updated as more official news (and hopefully some casting announcements for those fraternity roles) drops for The Watcher Season 2.
Are you thrilled to see the Brannock family returning? How do you think they’ll tie into a college frat nightmare? Let us know in the comments below!