‘Average Joe’ Season 2 Premiere Date, Time and What to Expect on Paramount+

Deon Cole’s plumber turned reluctant fugitive is back in business, and this time the danger has gone global. The eight episode second season premieres globally on Paramount+ on Wednesday, August 19, with two episodes arriving at launch and one new episode following every Wednesday after that.

The action comedy thriller built a loyal following during its first run, and its return marks a new chapter for the franchise following a significant behind the scenes shift. ‘Average Joe’ follows an everyday plumber named Joe who learns that his recently deceased father was working for the Russian mafia and stole ten million dollars and a car from them, leaving the mob now looking for Joe and the money.

‘Average Joe’ Season 2 Release Date and Episode Schedule

‘Average Joe’ Season 2 premieres Wednesday, August 19 on Paramount+, with the first two episodes available on premiere day and one new episode streaming every Wednesday after that. The rollout departs from the binge model many streamers use for their originals. The move to a weekly format is a shift from the binge style rollout many streamers favor, and it should help keep the show’s twisty plot fresh in viewers’ minds between episodes.

The season’s release comes after a lengthy gap between installments. It has been almost three years since the first season of ‘Average Joe’ debuted on June 26th, 2023. That wait reflects more than simple scheduling. Filming for the eight episode season primarily took place in Cape Town, South Africa, and Atlanta, Georgia, beginning in early 2025, and the three year gap between seasons was caused by several factors, including the 2023 Hollywood strikes and the logistical complexity of moving production to South Africa.

The platform itself has also changed since Season 1 debuted. Season 1 debuted to strong reviews, earning an 86 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and quickly becoming the number one scripted drama series on BET+ in its debut week, before the show moved its streaming home to Paramount+ following the shuttering of BET+ after Paramount bought out Tyler Perry Studios’ minority stake in the platform. All episodes of Season 1 are now available on Paramount+, having also been added to Netflix in August 2024.

Early reception for the new season has been positive as well. Critics have described Season 2 as arriving on Paramount+ with more knockout performances, more absurd humor, and more surprising moments than before, calling it a show unlike anything else on the platform right now.

How to Watch ‘Average Joe’ Season 2 and What Time It Arrives

Viewers can access ‘Average Joe’ Season 2 through Paramount+ in multiple markets around the world. Season 2 premieres with a double bill on Wednesday, August 19, with subsequent episodes arriving globally on Paramount Plus on a weekly basis, and plans in the United States start from 8.99 dollars per month.

International audiences are not left out of the launch window. The streaming service has a monthly price of about 8.99 Canadian dollars in Canada, 4.99 pounds in the United Kingdom, and 8.99 Australian dollars in Australia for its lowest priced plans. The series can also be streamed through Paramount Plus channel add ons on services like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Roku for those who prefer bundled access.

For those who have not seen the first season, the platform has made catching up simple. All episodes of Season 1 are streaming on Paramount+, allowing new viewers to catch up on the drama before diving into the new season. That accessibility matters given how tightly the sophomore season is tied to what came before it.

Season 2 Plot Preview and the Move to Cape Town

Season 2 wastes little time putting Joe Washington back in danger after a brief taste of normal life. Season 2 picks up after the dramatic events of the first season, with Joe attempting to move forward after everything he and his friends have been through, but his plans for a quieter life quickly fall apart when a mysterious threat puts his family in danger.

The threat sends the core group far from their Pittsburgh roots. According to the official synopsis, a quest for answers spirals into a dangerous adventure involving international criminals, powerful enemies, and long buried secrets. Alongside Leon, Cathy and Touch, Joe finds himself on the run from assassins and bounty hunters, caught up in an ever escalating series of misadventures.

Cape Town becomes the primary backdrop for the new season’s chaos. Average Joe characters spend much of Season 2 in South Africa, with production having filmed extensively in Cape Town to bring the international setting to life. Katlego Lebogang joins the cast as Imani, a young woman whose connection to Joe’s family upends everything he thought he knew about his past.

The season’s new villain adds another layer to the group’s predicament abroad. Hakeem Kae-Kazim joins the cast as Sipho, a Cape Town crime boss who pursues Joe and his friends during their time in South Africa. Kae-Kazim is widely recognized for his role in Hotel Rwanda and for appearances in Pirates of the Caribbean, At World’s End and 24.

Cast and Crew Behind ‘Average Joe’ Season 2

The returning ensemble anchors the season alongside its new additions. Deon Cole leads the cast as Joe Washington, joined by returning cast members Malcolm Barrett, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, and Michael Trucco. Cole is a two time Emmy nominee for his work on Conan O’Brien’s talk shows, in addition to being recognized for his on screen performances on Black-ish and its spin-off Grown-ish.

Behind the camera, the show remains a deeply personal project for its creator. Series star Robb Cullen created ‘Average Joe,’ which is inspired by his own life, and Cullen also serves as an executive producer on Season 2 alongside Deon Cole, Eric Dean Seaton, Tyrone Finch, Rose Catherine Pinkney, Deb Evans, McG, Corey Marsh, and Mary Viola. The series is produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision and DAE Light Media in association with BET Studios.

Ahead of the premiere, the stars themselves previewed how much bigger the story has become. In interviews with TV Fanatic ahead of the season, the cast teased that the new episodes would be bigger, wilder and more unhinged than what fans saw in Season 1. That sentiment lines up with the season’s shift from a local mob story to an international chase spanning continents.

Paramount+ backed up that shift with an early promotional push. In its coverage previewing the season, Deadline reported that Paramount+ unveiled several first look photos alongside the premiere date announcement for Season 2, framing it as a return for one of the platform’s most talked about original series.

Between its new setting, its expanded cast, and a premiere date that has been a long time coming, ‘Average Joe’ Season 2 has plenty riding on its first weeks on Paramount+, and fans who have followed Joe Washington’s chaotic double life from Pittsburgh to Cape Town will likely have strong opinions on where the story goes from here.