It’s been a little over a year since Sense8 debuted on Netflix, but it seems like it’s been ages. The sci-fi brain-twister, from Matrix masterminds Lana and Lilly Wachowski, spawned a small but rabid fan base during its first season run. Despite substantial online buzz, the series failed to capture the award-winning magnetism of some of its sister streaming shows, and chatter has largely subsided since its 2015 premiere.

A delayed renewal for a second season didn’t boost its staying power. Netflix revealed the news on Twitter in August of 2015, but updates about when to expect its next chapter have been few and far between. It’s currently rumored to arrive sometime next year, though fans may be getting an early peek.

Reports have begun to emerge that Netflix has plans for a Sense8 Christmas special. The streaming hub has yet to officially confirm the news, but sleuth viewers have pieced together some pretty concrete clues. The show’s Netflix page indicates a “Christmas special coming Dec. 23,” and the cast has been teasing a holiday episode for several months. Daryl Hannah, who plays the sensates’ mentor-slash-mother Angel, shared a photo of what looked like a script in March, while Jamie Clayton (San Francisco hacktivist Nomi Marks), tweeted about the special in April (below).

Netflix has yet to set an official release date for season 2, though several major changes have already been announced. Newcomer Toby Onwumere will replace Aml Ameen as Capheus, a Nairobi man working as a matatu driver to make money for his mother’s AIDS medication. Ameen abruptly quit his role in April, after filming for season 2 was already underway. His exit was allegedly due to a disagreement with co-creator Lana Wachowski, who is helming the season solo. Lilly is sitting out to “focus on her well-being” after coming out as transgender, but may return for a potential third season. The remaining core cast is slated to return.

For those unfamiliar, Sense8 follows eight strangers from around the world who discover a psychic link between themselves after experiencing collective visions of a violent, mysterious death. It received praise for its diversity, originality, and ambition, but lost weight for its tangled plot lines. Still, the series had undeniable potential: the majority of season 1 outlined grand, complex storytelling that viewers had only begun to sink into. A Christmas special should help revive its initial momentum and tide fans over until season 2 is unveiled in its entirety - assuming that it will premiere sooner than later.

Season 1 of Sense8 is available in its entirety on Netflix; a season 2 release date has not been announced.

Source: Various [via Slash Film]