Though Amazon has been making a name for itself with original programming for several years now, none of their series have been quite as ambitious or notable as its highly-publicized adaptation of Philip K. Dick's beloved The Man in the High Castle. Imagining a world where Hitler and the Axis powers won World War II instead of the Allies, the series focuses on the citizens living in an America ruled by Germany and Japan, offering an interesting look at what it means to be oppressed, and how to find ways to stand up to unjust rulers even when it seems like the odds are inarguably stacked in their favor.
Last year, the series' first season was welcomed to mostly positive reviews from critics and general viewers alike, with most anxiously waiting to see if the show would be able to continue and maintain the momentum from the end of its first season into its second. Following the sophomore season's recent premiere as well, it seems fair to say that Amazon is more than happy with the results.
The streaming service has now officially renewed The Man in the High Castle for another season, with Bosch executive producer Eric Overmyer coming on board to serve as executive producer and new showrunner for the series. This news comes, of course, just after the recent release of reports indicating that the second season premiere brought in more viewers in its first weekend than any other Amazon original series to date, according to Amazon. Joe Lewis, Amazon Studios' Head of Comedy and Drama, commented on the renewal today with the following:
“As timely as ever, the exploration of characters at a dark point for humanity has provided incredible stories for two seasons. Eric and his team are doing an incredible job crafting stories about the inner lives of those who struggle to do good in a world that is not.”
The news of Overmyer coming onboard should be a welcome relief to fans also, after the series' original showrunner Frank Spotnitz suddenly left the show in the middle of production on the second season, due to reported creative differences and clashes with Amazon. Spotnitz was not immediately replaced either, with the show's existing producing team simply taking over for him at the time.
Now, considering the show's second season has been met with notably more negative reviews from critics and viewers than its predecessor was, hopefully having just one main creative voice working on and leading the series will help return it to a more cohesive and nuanced tone and feel in its third season. So far, The Man in the High Castle has been a consistently record-breaking endeavor for Amazon Studios, and it seems like the streaming service is more than just eager to keep its popularity and current streak going with its next season.
The Man in the High Castle season 2 is now available on Amazon. Season 3 does not have a premiere date yet.
Source: Amazon