Updated: June 13, 2024 - School Spirits had us gripped when it made its debut on Paramount+ last March. We first met Maddie Nears as she was learning that not only had she died but also she’d been murdered. For eight episodes, we were taken on a murder mystery ride as she and her friends worked to uncover who’d hurt her and why.
The season finale, “Madison’s Body” answered that question and then left several more in its wake. There were also loose ends still left to be tied up regarding the other ghosts, too. Thank goodness the series was renewed for a season 2 in June 2023 because that season finale cliffhanger needs a resolution!
Fast forward a year and news is finally coming in about School Spirits' sophomore season. Here's everything we know so far!
Production is underway on School Spirits season 2
Back in April, Hollywood North Buzz reported that filming on the second season would commence June 17, it looks like it's gotten started a few days earlier. Paramount+ announced, along with cast additions, that production has begun. Per Hollywood North Buzz's reporting, it's expected to run through Sept. 5. Paramount+'s Instagram shared a new cast photo and pictures from the table read.
Season 2 will premiere Fall 2024
An exact premiere date has yet to be announced, but we know School Spirits will be returning in the fall. Given the expected season 2 wrapped date, it likely won't be in September. We could see the show make its come back in time for spooky season in October. With the series being about a group of ghosts that's perfect timing!
As the above Instagram post notes, season 2 will only be available on Paramount+. While the first season is streaming on Netflix as well as the show's actual streaming home, the same can't be said for School Spirits' sophomore run, at least not initially. Season 2 might be licensed sometime down the road, similarly to how Evil seasons 1-2 are available to watch on Netflix while season 3 and the currently releasing final season can only be viewed on Paramount+.
The season will release in the following countries: U.S., Canada, Australia, the UK, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan.
School Spirits season 2 cast
All of the season 1 series regulars will be returning in that capacity for the second season. Josh Zuckerman aka Mr. Martin has been bumped up to a series regular for this run.
Main cast
- Peyton List as Maddie Nears
- Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy
- Spencer MacPherson as Xavier Baxter
- Kiara Pichardo as Nicole Herrera
- Sarah Yarkin as Rhonda
- Nick Pugliese as Charley
- Rainbow Wedell as Claire Zomer
- Josh Zuckerman as Mr. Martin
- Milo Manheim as Wally Clark
Season 2's recurring cast has also been announced including the actress who will be stepping into the shoes of the infamous Janet Hamilton. Jess Gabor has been tapped to play Janet, who is currently on the run in Maddie's body hoping to get a new lease on life in Detroit with the money she stole. Zack Calderon is set to play Diego Herrera. Considering Diego's last name, he's likely related to Nicole.
Like with Calderon's role, descriptions have been held for Miles Elliot and Cihang Ma's characters. We do know Elliot has been cast as Yuri and Ma will play Quinn. The recurring cast also features:
- Maria Dizzia as Sandra Nears, Maddie's mom
- Patrick Gilmore as Mr. Anderson, the English teacher Claire blackmailed
- Ian Tracey as Sheriff Baxter, Liam's father
Season 1 ending explained
By the end of the season 1 finale, “Madison’s Body,” the murder mystery plot was solved, however, it turns out that Maddie didn’t “die” in the traditional sense. She was body snatched by Janet, a teen ghost that Mr. Martin had said crossed over to the other side. Janet is currently walking around in Maddie’s body and bought a bus ticket to Detroit.
The one living ally our lead had on her side was Simon, her best friend, but after he saw “Maddie” drive away in a truck he came to the conclusion that he was only seeing his best friend’s ghost because he was grieving, and he walked away from her. Trapped on school property because of the limitations on ghosts, Maddie couldn’t go after him once he left Split River High.
What's expected to happen in School Spirits season 2
According to the official synopsis: "Picking up from the shocking season one finale, season two finds Maddie Nears (List) still stuck in the afterlife, but now with the knowledge of what happened to her. She must unite her friends in the spectral and living worlds in order to reclaim her stolen life."
Now that we know Janet was the one who “killed” Maddie, season 2 will likely focus on our lead working to convince Simon that she’s not a product of his grief and her body has been hijacked by a rogue ghost. It’s also possible that we could see the alive teens take a road trip to track Janet down since she stole Nicole’s money and used some of it to buy a bus ticket.
Not to mention Mr. Martin has a lot to answer for since he’s been studying the ghostly teens and hoarding their belongings for some kind of experiment they didn’t even know they were a part of. It’s possible that he’s known the entire time that Janet’s been walking around in Maddie’s body, he might even know how it’s possible that she can do that.
The season 1 finale opened the plot up to many possibilities we can’t wait to see explored in season 2. For a refresher on what happened in each episode of the first season, click through to the next page.
Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more School Spirits news and coverage! All eight episodes of season 1 are available to stream on Paramount+ and Netflix.