The Peripheral executive producer Lisa Joy shares an optimistic update on season 2. Adapted from William Gibson's 2014 novel of the same name and executive produced by Westworld creators Joy and Jonathan Nolan, with Scott B. Smith as the creator, The Peripheral stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Flynne. Seeking purpose in her life, Flynne lives with her ailing mother and brother Burton (played by Jack Reynor). The siblings are avid gamers, which leads them to test out a new system from a company that allows Flynne to unlock her dreams.
In a manner reminiscent of Westworld, the Prime Video series grows and expands into a more complicated and complex story. By the time of the game-changing Peripheral season 1 finale, the audience is left with many questions about where the story could go next. Although it has yet to be renewed, Lisa Joy shared an optimistic update about the show's future. In an interview with Radio Times, Joy revealed that there had been discussions about season 2. She added that she's looking ahead to a potential third season, explaining what intrigued her about the adaptation:
“I would love to have season 2 and season 3 and all the seasons in the world to explore this amazing, amazing novel. I know we’ve already started brainstorming about season two in the hopes that we get a season two, and the world only gets more vast and complicated. But the thing that really appeals to me about it is how much deeper we are able to dive into each of the characters’ lives, and personal lives and ambitions and motivations. To me, that is where it gets really exciting.”
Will The Peripheral Season 2 Happen? What The Viewership Says
Like the other big streaming services, Prime Video does not regularly release viewership data. Because of this, it can be hard to glean how successful The Peripheral season 1 was. Still, it's worth noting that the sci-fi series had overtaken the Lord of the Rings series on Prime Video's charts upon its debut. Data from Parrot Analytics shows that the series has outstanding demand from audiences, and the estimates are increasing. Though both of these points sound positive in isolation, without concrete numbers, a factor worth considering is the show's budget: The Peripheral cost $80 million for its eight episodes.
There's a question of whether Amazon's Prime Video finds the cost worth the viewership. It's the same equation that reportedly led to the cancelation of Westworld, as HBO felt that show's huge budget wasn't worth its shrinking ratings. But for The Peripheral, its price tag may convince Prime Video that it's worth allowing the series to find a bigger audience before pulling the plug. The streaming service has supported other shows this way in the past by offering speedy renewals.
The fate of The Peripheral season 2 will likely clarify in the coming weeks and months. But, at least for the adaptation's writers and producers, it's clear that they are very much interested in continuing to explore the universe that they richly set up in the first batch of episodes. It's a universe with unresolved threads for Flynne, Burton, and others.
Source: Radio Times, Parrot Analytics