Turns out, Made for Love was made for more. HBO Max's sci-fi dark comedy series proved to be a critical smash when it premiered in April. Now, the show will continue with a second season, which will arrive sometime in the near (dystopian) future. Little is known about the next chapter in this tech-heavy anti-romance, but we know some key details about the Cristin Milioti-starring streaming series, based on Alissa Nutting's 2017 futuristic novel. Here's what we know — so far — about Made for Love Season 2.
Showrunner Christina Lee Will Be Joined By Author Alissa Nutting For Season 2
When it comes time to expand the satirical story at the twisted heart of Made for Love, showrunner Christina Lee is going straight to the source for inspiration. To be more specific, the TV scribe is joining forces with Alissa Nutting for the second season, particularly with the author serving as the co-showrunner for this newest installment. Given that Season 2 will obviously need to expand beyond the text, this is ultimately a smart play. It should be noted that Nutting was already the series' co-creator. Now, the novelist will have a hand in crafting this adaptation's unwieldy and ultra-futuristic story.
Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, And Ray Romano Are Expected To Return For Made For Love Season 2
Additionally, the main cast of Made for Love, including Cristin Miloti, Billy Magnussen, and Ray Romano, are expected to reprise their roles in this forthcoming season. It's unknown which other cast members are on board to return, but we should expect the majority of the celebrated ensemble to come back for the latest episodes in the series. But we'll have to wait for official confirmation before we know for sure who's signed on.
The Second Season Is Expected To Explore Byron’s Backstory
While there was an emotional arc in Made for Love's first season, there are a whole lot of things left unexplained. To put it bluntly, what's Bryon's whole deal? The writers and the lead actor leave a lot of breadcrumbs when it comes to the capitalistic character's cryptically isolated childhood, which suggests that there are some dark truths waiting to be discovered with this unknowable tech wiz. While we shouldn't expect to know everything about this elusive egomaniac in the next season, Christina Lee promised to expand on his backstory more in Season 2 during an interview with Deadline. After all, who doesn't know who Willy Wonka is? What else don't we know about this perplexing personality? Viewers will need to stream the show's second season in order to find out.
I think that there are some questions, particularly with Byron on how he is the way he is. People were asking: Why doesn't he know who Willy Wonka is? Like, who is this guy? Is the Greg Benson thing real? And I will say that is something that we want to address in season 2, among everything else, but that's one of the things for sure.
Cristina Lee Intended Made For Love To Continue For Another Season
While it was never a guarantee that Made for Love would continue for another season, showrunner Cristina Lee really wanted viewers to be enticed by the potential for more.
As the TV writer admitted in an interview with THR's TV Top 5, the first season's finale was designed to be at least somewhat conclusive. That said, Cristina Lee also wanted to provide a satisfying wrap-up that still left fans eager to follow the continued fucked-up misadventures of Hazel (Cristina Miloti) and Byron (Billy Magnussen). While there is some emotional resolution, the story certainly isn't tied up in a neat little bow. There's wiggle room for sure, and Lee is ready and excited to dive into it with this new season.
We wrote an ending that I hope the audience will want to see what’s next. But it is a resolution in terms of two primary relationships in the show: Hazel and Byron and Hazel and Herbert. There’s emotional resolution at the end of the show that story-wise doesn’t have to stop there.
Expect More CGI Dolphins
Fret not, dolphin lovers. In addition to the returning cast and crew members, we should also expect even more CGI dolphins to appear in Made for Love Season 2. At least, that's what Suzanna Makkos, executive vice president of original comedy and adult animation for HBO Max, said in the streamer's official statement. For what it's worth, if the executives are willing to throw more money for elaborate CG sea mammals, that should show their confidence in this freshman program's new season. Here's the quote:
We are thrilled to be reuniting with this dream team of talented producers, incredible cast, and CGI dolphins to tell the next chapter of this exciting story.
Diane Is Coming Back, Too... But It Wasn't Easy
In addition to the cast and creatives expected to return for another season, Made for Love will also (thankfully) feature Diane's returning presence. That said, it wasn't easy to get the X-rated plaything back for another season. As Christina Lee and Alissa Nutting confessed in Season 2's press release announcement, Diane has become "a real hard-ass," particularly as the show's early fame has gotten to her rubbery head. Certainly, as the showrunners note, you might think she's a doll, but she's a real stickler. Thankfully, after some intense negotiations and a lot of back-and-forths, Diane has agreed to come back for another season. Here's the official cheeky joint quote from Nutting and Lee:
We're thrilled we get the chance to work with our incredible cast and crew again. We would've announced the pick-up earlier, but it was a beast closing Diane's deal. Everyone thinks she's a doll but she's a real hard-ass.
You can stream Made For Love Season 1 on HBO Max. And while you're waiting for the dark comedy to return for Season 2, be sure to check out the latest TV premiere dates in our Summer TV premiere schedule.
