‘Furious’ Season 2 Renewal at Hulu Explained by Impressive Numbers

Hulu’s crime thriller offerings have seen a mix of successes and failures recently, with some new shows gaining traction while others fade away after just one season. The recent cancellation of the comedy ‘Not Suitable for Work’ serves as a reminder that a full season order does not guarantee longevity on the platform.

In this context, ‘Furious’ has been steadily gaining momentum over the past month. Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, known for ‘New Girl’ and ‘The Dropout’, the crime drama debuted on July 27 and has reportedly been attracting more viewers each week, a trend that typically draws the attention of networks.

This growing popularity has resulted in a significant development. Hulu has officially renewed ‘Furious’ for Season 2, announcing the news just four days before the Season 1 finale airs on August 31, marking an unusually early sign of confidence for a first-season series.

The series stars Emmy Rossum as Alice Black, an FBI agent on the trail of a cunning female serial killer portrayed by Lola Petticrew, whose performance in the fifth episode earned her the title of TVLine’s Performer of the Week. The official logline highlights both characters as they navigate their own paths to justice, with the lines between right and wrong becoming increasingly blurred as their stories intertwine.

‘Furious’ has climbed into the Top 10 list of streaming originals, and industry reports indicate it has been the number one show on Disney+ and Hulu globally for August, while also ranking as the platform’s second-largest freshman drama domestically this year. The series boasts a 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and viewership for episode seven reportedly surged by 40% compared to the premiere.

Meriwether has shared her inspiration for the project. In an interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast, I’m Having an Episode, she expressed her love for serial killer narratives but noted the lack of female-centric stories, aside from ‘Killing Eve’. She mentioned that the 1987 film ‘Black Widow’ served as a useful reference for shaping the show.

‘Furious’ also stars Quincy Tyler Bernstine as Alice’s FBI partner Nora Washington and Scoot McNairy as NYPD detective Danny Kelly, with recurring roles from Jake Lacy, Rob Delaney, Hope Davis, Rob Yang, and Steve Way. Meriwether serves as an executive producer through her Composition 8 banner alongside Rossum, Ronald Bass, Matt Olmstead, and Sam Hoffman, while Brian Kirk directs and executive produces the first two episodes.

While Hulu has yet to provide details regarding the plot, casting, episode count, or production schedule for Season 2, fans can expect to speculate about the future of Alice and her target as Season 1 wraps up its central cat-and-mouse storyline.

For now, fans of ‘Furious’ can look forward to the Season 1 finale before turning their attention to what lies ahead in Season 2.

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