'The Buccaneers' Will Regroup for Season 2 In June

Despite its success in many other genres and formats, Apple TV+ still does not make nearly enough period dramas. (At least, according to me, noted period drama enjoyer.) But, thankfully, it's best one is heading back to us sooner rather than later. The streamer has set a June premiere for Season 2 of its lavish remake of The Buccaneers, and it certainly sounds as though there's plenty of drama in store. Based on Edith Wharton's final unfinished novel, the drama follows a group of wealthy American heiresses who head to England in an attempt to snag cash-poor landowning aristocrats to give them the titles and social legitimately they (and their families) had always dreamed of. 

The series' first season saw its titular squad shake up the established hierarchy of the English elite. Things certainly ended in wildly dramatic style: Nan St. James is the newly married Duchess of Tintagel despite her lingering romantic feelings for her husband's best friend. Her pregnant sister Jinny is on the run from an abusive spouse, and unbeknownst to either girl, Nan's as yet unidentified birth mother is lurking on the edge of their lives. 

Elsewhere, Conchita's wealthy family has lost all their money, a blow enough in and of itself. But her father-in-law is also dying, meaning that her husband will have to renege on the freewheeling happily ever after he's promised her to assume his duties as the new Lord Brightlingsea. Oh, and Mabel has come out to her sister Lizzy, called off her engagement with Miles, and confessed her romantic feelings to Honoria. 

Where does Season 2 go after all that? Your guess is as good as ours, but these girls will all have to put aside childish things awfully quickly. Nan has already proven she'll do anything to keep Jinny safe, but can she protect herself from the legal ramifications of kidnapping her unborn child? Could sparks fly between Jinny and Guy now that they've been forced on the run together? How will Conchita react to being forced into (at least some version of) the restrictive society role she's so fervently insisted she doesn't want? What does Honoria and Mabel's relationship look like in a world where their love can not only not be recognized but in which they'll both be pushed to marry others?

Apple TV+ released a batch of new images teasing the new season, including shots of all the buccaneers and most of their love interests (sorry, Lord Richard, you are the odd man out). But fans will probably be most excited about our first look at former Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, who's joining the cast this season. 

She plays a character named Nell, but Apple hasn't revealed anything else about who that character might be. The secrecy and lack of a given last name certainly hints that she's mostly likely at least related to someone we know. (Look, if she's not playing Nan's long-lost mother, I'm going to be upset.) 

Here's the Season 2 description. 

In the first season of The Buccaneers, a group of fun-loving young American girls exploded into the tightly corseted London of the 1870s…setting hearts racing and kicking off an Anglo-American culture clash. Now the Buccaneers are no longer the invaders - England is their home. In fact they’re practically running the place. 

Nan is the Duchess of Tintagel, the most influential woman in the country. Conchita is Lady Brightlingsea, heroine to a wave of young American heiresses. And Jinny is on every front-page, wanted for the kidnap of her unborn child. All of the girls have been forced to grow up and now have to fight to be heard, as they wrestle with romance, lust, jealousy, births and deaths... themes consuming all women of any age, no matter what year it is. Last time we got a taste of England. This time we’re in for a veritable feast.

Season 2 reunites the Buccaneers — Imogen Waterhouse (The Irregulars) as Jinny St. George, Kristine Frøseth (The First Lady) as Nan St. George, Alisha Boe (Ray Donovan) as Conchita Closson, Aubri Ibrag (Dive Club) as Lizzy Elmsworth, and Josie Totah (Champions) as Mabel Elmsworth. The series also co-stars Christina Hendricks (Small Town, Big Story) as Mrs. St. George, with Mia Threapleton (Dangerous Liaisons) as Honoria Marable.

Other returning members of the ensemble cast include Josh Dylan (Masters of the Air) as Lord Richard Marable, Barney Fishwick (Showtrial) as Lord James Seadown, Guy Remmers (Lessons) as Theo, Duke of Tintagel, and Matthew Broome (My Fault: London) as Guy Thwarte. 

New faces joining the cast for the upcoming season alongside Meester include Jacob Ifan (Rogue Heroes) as Hector Robinson, Grace Ambrose (Paradise) as Paloma Ballardino, Maria Almeida (Fifteen-Love) as Cora Merrigan, and Greg Wise (The Crown) as Reede Robinson. Wise's casting is particularly noteworthy as he played Guy Thwarte in the original 1995 Buccaneers miniseries. (One has to assume he'll somehow cross paths with the current version.)

Series creator Katherine Jakeways penned all eight episodes of the show's second season; directors William McGregor, Rachel Leiterman, John Hardwick, and Charlie Manton split helming duties. Jakeways is also an executive producer alongside Beth Willis (Doctor Who) and Susanna White (Bleak House). 

The series is produced for Apple TV+ by The Forge Entertainment, a Banijay UK company.

The Buccaneers Season 2 will debut its premiere episode on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 18, with a new episode to follow each week through August 6, 2025. Season 1 is streaming on Apple TV+ and is worth checking out.