Spoilers for Kaos season 1 ahead. On August 29, 2024, Netflix premiered every Greek mythology fan's new favorite show. Created by Charlie Covell of The End of the F***ing World, Kaos takes the famous tales of Ancient Greece to the modern day, depicting an ensemble adventure where a group of humans sparks the end of the Olympians' reign. Major mythology nerds (we're guilty!) can tell you that the dark comedy featuring an incredible cast brilliantly reimagines centuries-old stories. Even non-fans will enjoy the must-watch TV series as the latest take on underdogs who rise against a cruel, megalomaniac, power-hungry leader.
Kaos season 1 ends with several dangling plot threads signaling that an epic battle of the gods is on the horizon. Ever since the show dropped, fans have been clamoring for any news that a second season of Kaos is on the way. Read on for everything we know about Kaos season 2.
Has 'Kaos' been renewed for season 2?
No. Netflix may be facing Ares' wrath because, unfortunately, less than two months after Kaos premiered, Deadline reported that the streamer is not renewing the show for season 2. According to the outlet, the news shocked the team behind the series, as they were already prepping for more episodes.
Showrunner Charlie Covell spoke about the cancelation several days after the news broke. They took to the series' production company Sister's Instagram to share a statement, writing, "Of course I'm gutted not to be making more Kaos, but I don't want this news to overshadow what we did make."
They said they were "extremely proud" of the project and shouted out fans' enthusiastic reactions. "My hope now is that people still continue to discover and enjoy the show: I reckon there are some potential fans out there who might need more time to find it, so please keep talking about Kaos if you enjoyed it," they wrote.
Upon its release, it seemed likely that Kaos would return. The drama debuted in the Top 10 of the streaming giant's most-watched shows list and was only surpassed by non-scripted shows. Covell's previous Netflix series The End of the F***ing World also received two seasons.
Covell also shared in interviews that they had been in conversation with Netflix about more to come. In a late August interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Covell revealed that there hadn't been any word from Netflix regarding a renewal, but that "they've been very supportive of it."
Was there supposed to be more than one season of 'Kaos?'
The Kaos showrunner didn't anticipate the mythology-inspired hit to end after one installment. In interviews, Covell revealed that they envisioned a three-season arc.
The creator told Cosmopolitan UK that their "dream was three seasons [of Kaos], saying, "I've got many ideas and a strong sense of what I'd want to do with it."
"There's definitely more," they continued. "I also didn't want to do an ending that was a total cliffhanger... I hope that it feels satisfying as a season 1 in its own right, and there's always hope for the more. Because I really would love to do more and work with those actors and that team. It was a bit of a dream come true."
Could 'Kaos' season 2 still come out?
It seems unlikely there will be more of Kaos, as it's been canceled by Netflix, but fans shouldn't entirely give up hope. In the past, different networks have brought back popular series—especially ones as cult-loved and with such great streaming numbers as Kaos. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Expanse, and even Lucifer on Netflix are all examples of shows revived by other networks/streaming services. So, since the show was already rearing to go on season 2, it's possible another outlet could swoop in and continue the story.
If that does happen, it would likely be a while for new episodes. Not only would that deal have to happen, but shooting on season 1 began in late summer 2022 and ended in May 2023, according to Deadline and IMDb. Judging by those dates (and the state of the TV industry), if there were new episodes, they may not premiere until 2027.
Who would have been in the cast of 'Kaos' season 2?
A surprising number of characters made it out of Kaos season 1 alive (or at least non-mummified) for a show about Greek mythology, so many of the stars would have likely returned. Among the heavy hitters: Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, Janet McTeer as Hera, Cliff Curtis as Poseidon, David Thewlis as Hades, Rakie Ayola as Persephone, Nabhaan Rizwan as Dionysus, and Stephen Dillane as Prometheus.
As for the humans, we could have also expected Aurora Perrineau as Riddy, Misia Butler as Caeneus, Killian Scott as Orpheus, Leila Farzad as Ari, Debi Mazar as Medusa, Ramon Tikaram as Charon, and Billie Piper as Cassandra.
What would 'Kaos' season 2 have been about?
Kaos season 1 ends with the titular prophecy ("A line appears, the order wanes, the family falls, and Kaos reigns") shared by Zeus, Riddy, Caeneus, and Ari beginning to unfold. The big secret that Zeus and the gods have been keeping is that humans aren't renewed (or, reincarnated) when they go through the Frame. Instead, they're mummified in the Nothing (or what's essentially the Underworld's basement) and their souls are turned into Meander water, which the gods drink to stay immortal. This means that while humans worship the gods for a better chance in the next life, gods have only been toying with them and consuming them as their mortal playthings.
This changes when Caeneus is sent to the Nothing after he follows his mother through the Frame where a white light appears on his neck, restoring his soul to his body. He soon discovers that he can restore souls when he wakes his mother, which Hades who is nearby also learns. This new power sets up a task for Caeneus in season 2.
Cassandra relays this to Riddy. The prophet says, "You must go to Ari and set the living free. Caeneus will do the same with the dead."
While Riddy, Caeneus, and Ari handle the human affairs, a newly-freed Prometheus declares all-out war on Zeus when he sits on his frenemy's throne. And Prometheus is only one of the gods Zeus will have to deal with, as his entire family has turned against him. Hera takes her Tacitas to stay with one of her kids(!), finally leaving her husband. Hades wants to restore order to the Underworld and repair the frame, and Dionysus, newly in love with Ari, goes to the Herakleion palace. Poseidon's more of a toss-up, but odds are he'll fall in with Hera.
Among all these cliffhangers, Zeus arrives at the throne room and finds another surprise besides a freed Prometheus: The king of the gods bleeds. The Meander falls. As Prometheus says, "I am sorry, my friend. It's happened. Kaos is coming."
