Archive 81 Season 2: Release Date, Trailer, Plot, Cast & More
Archive 81 presents an entirely different type of horror series that focuses more on the tension and the effects of some supernatural events on the psyche of the person involved. That said, while Archive 81 had a good finale, the problem is that there were more questions raised than answered. And that means that fans need to wait for the second season to have those questions answered. So, when is Archive 81 season 2 going to be released?
Netflix is yet to renew Archive 81 for a second season. However, because the first season ended in a cliffhanger and due to the success of the series, there is a good reason to believe that season 2 is coming. And it is possible that it will be released right around January of 2023.
Seldom do we see horror shows getting a second season because, most of the time, the story tends to conclude in the first season. However, given the fact that Archive 81 has an interesting storyline that is both scary and intriguing, there is a good chance that the series will end up getting a second season. Of course, the decision is still on Netflix’s end.
Archive 81 Season 2 Release Date
One of the most intriguing horror shows that we have on Netflix is Archive 81. The reason why Archive 81 is as good as it is can be attributed to the fact that it presents its horror in a different way compared to the usual type of horror that we see on our screens.
Even though Archive 81 is directed by James Wan, who is known for his work with The Conjuring, Archive 81 is not like the aforementioned popular film. Instead of relying on jump scares and other similar horror tropes, Archive 81 presents itself in a slow and methodical manner that tends to build up tension as we watch the series more.
Due to the popularity of the series, Archive 81 was able to build a good following of different fans that love what the story brings to the table in a world where horror movies and shows are all about jump scares. But the problem is that season 1 ended with more questions presented than answered. So, when will season 2 be released?
As of this writing, there is no confirmation regarding a second season. Nothing has been confirmed about Archive 81 getting a second season because Netflix is yet to renew the series. As this show is a Netflix original, it is up to the streaming giant to give the production crew the green light to start working on the second season.
Even though we are yet to find out anything about whether or not Archive 81 is going to be renewed, we can make an assumption regarding when season 2 will be released if and only if it will get the green light after getting renewed.
Season 1 of Archive 81 was announced in October of 2020. Meanwhile, filming began in November 2020 and continued until March 29, 2021. That means that the entire filming process happened in a span of four months.
However, it took nearly ten months since filming concluded for Archive 81 to get released. Of course, there are plenty of reasons why, such as editing and other post-filming duties that the production crew had to do. But you also need to consider the fact that the series was produced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given what we mentioned above, it is possible for production to begin one or two months after Netflix renews Archive 81. For example, if it receives the green light in February, production and filming may start sometime during April or May. Of course, there will be post-production editing that will be done on the series after filming it. But that shouldn’t take more than six months after filming.
So, given the same time span, we may be able to see Archive 81 season 2 getting released in January of 2023 if and only if it gets renewed as early as February. But if it will take time for Netflix to consider renewing it, there is a chance that we might end up seeing the second season of Archive 81 sometime in the middle of next year and quite possibly late in 2023.
Also, if you consider the fact that there are also Netflix shows that tend to take time to release their second seasons, such as The Haunting series and The Witcher, it is also possible that Archive 81 season 2 will be released in 2024. Take note that The Haunting of Bly Manor was released two years after The Haunting of Hill House. Season 2 of The Witcher also took two years to release after the first season premiered.
So, if we were to use the Netflix trend, then there is a good possibility that Archive 81 will be released in January of 2024, as it isn’t rare for Netflix shows to see the release seasons two years apart.
Archive 81 Season 2 Trailer
Considering that there is yet to be any announcement regarding season 2 of Archive 81, it might take time for us to see the trailer of the second season. That’s because trailers are often released during or after filming. The footage used in the trailers is taken from the filmed scenes. It would be too odd to see a season 2 trailer for Archive 81 before it even started production.
Archive 81 Season 2 Plot
The most interesting discussion regarding season 2 of Archive 81 is in relation to its plot. That’s because, as of this moment, everything about the plot is going to be purely speculative in nature due to the fact that there hasn’t been anything revealed about the second season of Archive 81.
Of course, the best way for us to talk about the possible plot of Archive 81 season 2 is to go back to the final events of season 1.
Back in the first season of Archive 81, Dan discovered that Melody’s soul had been trapped in the otherworld of the demon deity Kaelogo since 1994. Through the help of Melody’s mother, who is part of the witch cult that banished Kaelogo, Dan was able to go to the otherworld to save Melody.
Even though Dan was initially tempted to stay by the demon Kaelogo when he was in the otherworld, he eventually broke out of the temptation and resorted to saving Melody. But as Dan and Melody are looking to escape, the main antagonist, Samuel, yanks Melody to the portal opened for Dan during his timeline.
Due to Samuel’s interference, Melody was blasted to a timeline that isn’t hers but is certainly similar to the timeline where Dan came from. Meanwhile, Dan was transported to a time that wasn’t his as well. And while some people believe that he was still trapped in the otherworld, showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine revealed in a Variety interview that he is definitely in the 90s.
“I can tell you that he is in the ’90s,” said Sonnenshine. “He’s in the real ’90s, and the clue for that is that it does not have the particulates floating around there. He’s in 1994. And the question we’re asking is, we saw people disappear into The Otherworld in different time periods, right? So, what does that mean? It means there’s little holes, little poke, poke — little entry and exit points. And that people have gotten kind of mixed up in there trying to exit, and maybe didn’t exit through the right door.”
Based on what Sonnenshine said, what we can presume is that the second season of Archive 81 will be focused on Dan in the 90s, as he is probably looking for a way to get back to his own timeline. We might also see more of Melody, who might end up in the seat where Dan was during season 1, as she might be the one who is going to find a way to get Dan back to his own timeline.
There is also a good possibility that we will end up finding out more about the Baldung witches, who were responsible for trapping Kaelogo. Melody’s mother is secretly a Baldung witch, and she might end up getting more involved in the story, especially if Melody is going to want to bring Dan back.
But the fact of the matter is that there is a good possibility that Dan is going to once again be the center of the story. Then again, Sonnenshine went on to say that they purposely made season 1 open-ended so that there will be plenty of possibilities that can happen in the second season once it gets the green light for production. That means that everything that we talked about regarding the possible plot of season 2 is pure speculation.
Archive 81 Season 2 Cast
It is possible that season 2 of Archive 81 will once again revolve around the main characters. Of course, this involves Dan and Melody. It is also a possibility that Dan’s best friend Mark will also be involved. Of course, Sonnenshine also mentioned that Samuel is still out there somewhere and could possibly be involved in the next plot.
That said, here are the characters who are speculated to return in season 2:
- Mamoudou Athie as Dan Turner
- Dina Shihabi as Melody Pendras
- Evan Jonigkeit as Samuel
- Matt McGorry as Mark Higgins
Will There Be Archive 81 Season 3?
As of this moment, it is tough to say whether or not there will be a third season of Archive 81 because season 2 is yet to be renewed. The fate of a third season rests on the success and the plot of season 2, as there is still a good possibility that the entire plot will wrap up in the second season. So, season 3 is entirely dependent on the events of season 2 if Archive 81 gets renewed.
