‘The Beast in Me’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix With Claire Danes Returning
When Netflix picked up ‘The Beast in Me’ in 2024, it was billed as a self-contained limited series. The psychological thriller, created by Gabe Rotter and produced by 20th Television, starred Claire Danes as author Aggie Wiggs opposite Matthew Rhys as Nile Jarvis, and it debuted on the streamer in November 2025.
It quickly became one of Netflix’s biggest hits of the season. According to What’s on Netflix, the show debuted at No. 1 on the Global Top 10, reached the top 10 in 88 countries, and racked up 43 million views in its first 7 weeks.
Now the story isn’t over after all. On September 24, Netflix renewed ‘The Beast in Me’ for a second season, with Danes returning to star as Aggie and executive producer, as Variety first reported.
Season 1 showrunner Howard Gordon returns as co-showrunner alongside Season 1 executive producer Daniel Pearle. “We always told ourselves we’d only do a second season of ‘The Beast in Me’ if we found a story that was worthy of the first – and I’m thrilled to say we found it,” Gordon said in a statement to Variety.
The renewal also comes with a bigger deal behind the scenes. Gordon, known for ‘Homeland’ and ’24’, has signed an overall TV deal with Netflix through his Teakwood Lane Productions banner to develop new series exclusively for the streamer.
Netflix Head of Scripted Series Jinny Howe praised the show’s performance, saying it captivated global audiences and delivered extraordinary performances led by Danes. She also highlighted that it earned Rhys a historic Emmy win. According to What’s on Netflix, production on the new season is set to begin in New Jersey this November.
‘THE BEAST IN ME’ has been renewed for Season 2 at Netflix. Claire Danes is set to return. https://t.co/IMFmtZKY59
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 24, 2026
That Emmy history is a big part of why the renewal feels so notable. ‘The Beast in Me’ earned 9 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and lead acting nods for both Danes and Rhys, winning 2 trophies: Lead Actor and its original dramatic score, per Deadline.
Rhys’ win was especially historic. Deadline noted that he became the first performer to win 2 lead acting categories in the same year, having also won Lead Comedy Actor for Apple TV’s ‘Widow’s Bay’, and the first to complete a career sweep of all 3 lead acting categories.
The renewal has real consequences for awards season. TheWrap explained that with Danes returning, the show will shift from the limited series categories to the drama series categories in future Emmy races, following rules established by ‘The White Lotus’.
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys star in the first trailer for 'The Beast In Me.'
— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) September 15, 2025
The new Netflix series, from the team that brought you Homeland, premieres November 13. pic.twitter.com/yycweJnrj4
The biggest mystery is whether Rhys will return. Netflix hasn’t revealed his status, which is understandable given that Season 1 ended with Nile exposed as a serial killer after trying to frame Aggie.
Deadline even hinted that Aggie may be writing a sequel to her ‘The Beast in Me’ book. Before the renewal, Pearle had also teased that there had been talks about a second season, saying he’d love to explore that possibility.
Rotter remains the creator and an executive producer, and the series boasts an impressive roster of producers. Antonio Campos, Caroline Baron, Amy Lippman, Conan O’Brien, David Kissinger, Jeff Ross, Danes, and Jodie Foster also executive produce.
Are you excited that The Beast in Me is returning for Season 2?
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