The Gilded Age creator Julian Fellowes gives an update on the progress of The Gilded Age season 2. The HBO Max drama recently ended its first season, but HBO quickly renewed The Gilded Age for another season last month. Similarly to Fellowes's prior hit TV series creation, Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age is a period drama and is set in the same world. Taking place in 1880s New York, the show sees Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) attempting to infiltrate her wealthy aunt's social circle, led by railroad tycoon George Russell (Morgan Spector). The Gilded Age boasts an impressive cast including Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) and Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia!).
Before Fellowes's update, not much had been revealed about which characters will return for season 2. However, while there was some mystery surrounding the next season, the premiere date for The Gilded Age season 2 is speculated to be on track for 2023. The show's first season had taken a long time to make its way to the screen, having been first announced a decade ago before finding a home at HBO Max, and its production was delayed for six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The second season's production is currently planned for May to October 2022.
In an interview with THR, Fellowes discusses the progress of The Gilded Age season 2. While hesitant to give too much away, as Fellowes makes it clear that The Gilded Age season 2 scripts may end up looking very different to what they are now, it's apparent that the writing process is underway. Check out what Fellowes had to say about how the second season is coming along here:
"We can say virtually nothing, I mean, it’s difficult to say whether we’ve written it, because you write it but then you rewrite it and you go back and you do this and you do that. And as you approach the readthrough you’re sort of finalizing the episodes you’re going to read, so it’s all a kind of ongoing thing. The short answer is we are working on the script of the second series."
Much is still unknown about when the show will return, and Fellowes doesn't give anything away about the timeline of the script rewrites. However, HBO will likely want the next chapter of The Gilded Age's old vs new money plot ready for its viewers as soon as possible. HBO has had a number of hit TV shows in recent years including Watchmen and The White Lotus - which The Gilded Age went on to surpass in viewing figures. The Gilded Age also increased rapidly to over 3 million viewers from the 1.2 million that its premiere received.
With so many specific details yet to be confirmed about The Gilded Age season 2 and the creator's reluctance to give much away about it, it will be exciting for fans to speculate who will be returning in the story. It's also interesting to consider the possibilities of new characters who will be introduced. The Gilded Age has used real people as inspiration for their characters previously, so the next season has even more opportunity to adapt real events for the show.
Source: THR