Freeform’s “Cruel Summer” Renewed For Season 2 Prior To First Season Finale

When “Cruel Summer” fans watch Tuesday’s season finale, they will not have to worry about it also being a series finale. Freeform has officially renewed the drama for a second season.

The renewal is unsurprising. Though not a massive live+same-day performer, “Cruel Summer” has been posting solid all-platform numbers. Coupled with ample buzz and acclaim, the numbers made “Cruel Summer” an obvious candidate for another cycle.

What is less obvious is how the show will look in the future. One school of thought has the show keeping its same characters, while introducing a new story/mystery next season. The other would call for “Cruel Summer” to turn into an anthology series, with each season featuring an entirely new set of characters (but the same multi-time period format).

“Renewing ‘Cruel Summer’ for a season two was an easy decision,” says Freeform’s Tara Duncan. “It’s the biggest series debut in Freeform’s history, and the audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. Jessica, Michelle and Tia did a phenomenal job telling an addictive story that’s tapped into the cultural zeitgeist. I’m excited to see where they take the series next.”