Starz Renews Darkly Comic Thriller 'Sweetpea' for a Second Season
Ella Purnell in "Sweetpea"
(Photo: Starz)
Starz and the British network Sky have renewed their darkly comic thriller Sweetpea for a second season. This news is perhaps not all that surprising given that the C.J. Skuse novel upon which the show is based has several sequels -- and the series itself has barely touched on the events of the first --- but it's still a relief to hear, particularly since the first season ended on a shocking (and very bloody) cliffhanger.
The series stars Yellowjackets breakout Ella Purnell as Rhiannon Lewis, a young woman who feels invisible and overlooked in her own life. Stuck in a thankless job with no friends and an ailing father, she spends her time spinning elaborate Arya Stark-style kill lists of those she'd wipe out of her life (and the world) if she could. But when she's finally pushed over the edge by one particularly brutal day, she snaps in the most violent way possible.
The story of a wallflower who comes to life by dispensing death, Sweetpea is bitingly funny, shockingly bloody, and a surprisingly deft exploration of loneliness and isolation. But as Rhiannon begins to discover her own agency through committing violence, moonlighting as a vigilante-esque serial killer creates its own entirely new set of problems.
"Being part of Rhiannon’s coming-of-rage journey has been a career highlight for me, and to see fans engage with and relate to our oddball Rhiannon, in all her complexity, feels truly special," Purnell said in a statement. "I cannot wait for audiences to see what she does next. Stay tuned.”
Here's the Season 2 description.
Season 2 will see Rhiannon Lewis return with a vengeance as her killer secret continues to spiral, and she becomes more twisted than ever.
The series first season also starred Nicole Lecky (Mood), Jon Pointing (Queenie), Calam Lynch (Archie), Leah Harvey (A Gentleman in Moscow), Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso), and Dustin Demri-Burns (Slow Horses).
“Ella Purnell’s killer performance captured the journey of a woman finally finding her voice, and we’re thrilled with the response from critics and viewers” Alison Hoffman, President, STARZ Networks, said."Sweetpea's unique take on female agency is a perfect complement to STARZ’s slate of programming for women. We’re pleased to continue our partnership with Sky Studios and Ella Purnell in bringing another season of this addictive series to U.S. audiences.”
Sweetpea is adapted and executive produced by Kirstie Swain (Pure), who wrote the series alongside Krissie Ducker (Killing Eve), Laura Jayne Tunbridge, and Selina Lim (Sex Education). Ella Jones (Back To Life) directed the first season.
The first season of Sweetpea is currently streaming on Starz.
