WARNING: This article contains spoilers for My Brilliant Friend season 1 that may influence your enjoyment in discovering the plotlines. Read at your own risk.
My Brilliant Friend season 2 is coming to HBO. The drama series based on the novels from author Elena Ferrante has scored a renewal following its modest run on the cable network last November.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, My Brilliant Friend season 2 would be based on the second book, "The Story of a New Name," which will follow the show's lead characters, Elena Greco and Raffaella "Lila" Cerullo, in their early 20s. So, an expected recast of the main stars will be underway.
My Brilliant Friend is about two children who have formed a special friendship for more than 60 years. The first season covered their younger years and featured child actresses Elisa Del Genio as Elena and Ludovica Nasti as Lila. Later in the season, actresses Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace played the characters as teenagers.
As with the earlier season, episodes of My Brilliant Friend season 2 will be written by Ferrante as well as scribes like Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci, and Saverio Costanzo. The public, however, has always been intrigued by Ferrante as an author because she has never revealed her real identity and has been going by a pseudonym.
Per Harper's Bazaar, the second book in this series finds Lila married to Stefano, while her friend Elena pursues her studies and a career outside of their small town. A report from Variety, on the other hand, revealed that My Brilliant Friend season 2 would feature Italian director Alice Rohrwacher as the helmer of the upcoming eight-episode installment. She made a name for herself at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival when she won the Jury Grand Prize for the film "The Wonders."
Filming for My Brilliant Friend season 2 has started last March in Italy. Production is expected to last for six months before moving on to editing and sound mixing. Thus, given the timeline, My Brilliant Friend season 2 could be ready to premiere on HBO by spring to late 2020.
"We're thrilled that Elena Ferrante's epic story has resonated so powerfully with viewers and critics, and we look forward to the continuing journey of Elena and Lila," HBO head Casey Bloys said in the press release. Bloys also revealed that My Brilliant Friend season 1 had a modest debut on the network, but it became a critical favorite, thus the renewal.
