Quantcast
Connect with us

TV

“Cruel Summer” Will Return for a Second Season But Original Creator is No Longer Involved

Published

5 years ago

on

Cruel Summer Season 2

As we learned last month, the ’90s-set thriller “Cruel Summer” has been renewed for a second season by Freeform, but today brings an interesting update on that particular story.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, “Cruel Summer” creator Bert V. Royal is no longer involved with the series, and what’s particularly interesting here is that Royal actually walked away from the series *last year*, after only the debut season’s pilot episode had been shot.

THR reports, “Royal received a created by and exec producer credit on season one of Cruel Summer and was compensated for all 10 episodes of the thriller despite the fact that he chose to walk away from the series after the pilot in August/September. Sources note that Royal grew frustrated after repeated clashes with an exec at the network during the pilot process and walked away from the 1990s-set drama starring Olivia Holt.”

Today’s report continues…

“Sources note that Royal, who was credited as a writer on multiple episodes of Cruel Summer including the season one finale, chose to forgo any back-end profits that could emerge from Cruel Summer. It’s unclear if he will be compensated for the recently ordered second season of the series, which counts Jessica Biel and showrunner Tia Napolitano as exec producers. Napolitano, it’s worth pointing out, boarded the show after the pilot.”

The series “takes place over three summers in the ’90s when a beautiful and popular teen goes missing, and a seemingly unrelated girl transforms from a sweet and awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town, eventually becoming the most despised person in America.”

“Each episode is said to be told from the POV of one of the two main girls (Jeanette and Kate), which will have the viewer’s loyalties constantly shifting as more information is revealed.”

The series stars Olivia Holt, with Chiara Aurelia, Michael Landes, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee, Brooklyn Sudano and Sarah Drew.

Related Topics:

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has two awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

Click to comment

TV

‘Stranger Things: VHS Special Edition’ Now Streaming on Netflix; Entire First Season with VHS Filter!

Published

51 minutes ago

on

July 15, 2026

By

Today marks the 10th anniversary of “Stranger Things,” and Netflix is celebrating with a surprise treat that brings to life a longtime dream from creators Matt and Ross Duffer.

Now streaming only on Netflix, the “Stranger Things: VHS Special Edition” puts a retro style VHS filter atop the entire first season of Netflix’s pop culture sensation!

Netflix previews, “Rewind and relive the first season with a video store vibe that’s glitchy, grainy and gloriously vintage — just like you’d have rented it in 1983.”

You can watch this version by searching Stranger Things VHS on Netflix.

All eight episodes of “Stranger Things” Season 1… VHS style… enjoy!

The Duffer Brothers had expressed their desire for a VHS edition of “Stranger Things” Season 1 in an interview a while back. They said, “I’ve been bugging them about this forever. I want a VHS, pan and scan version of at least Season One. Put it on Netflix. The nerd in me loves it.”

The brothers have also released a new statement in celebration of today’s 10th anniversary of the first season. They tell Netflix, “We’re feeling so many emotions today. Nostalgic, proud, and a little sad too. But above all, we feel grateful — for our amazing cast, who we watched grow into wonderful human beings; for the hundreds of brilliant artists who devoted so much of themselves to bringing the story to life; and for you, the fans, whose dedication, patience, and passion fueled all of us throughout the years.”

Executive producer Shawn Levy adds in a statement, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Stranger Things first turned our world upside down. One of the greatest joys of this past decade has been watching these characters, and our incredible cast, grow up alongside the fans who have made Hawkins a place they return to again and again. We’re so grateful for their devotion, and we’re excited to celebrate this special anniversary with them. Hawkins forever.”

Continue Reading