Charles Melton is dishing out the juicy details about the highly anticipated second season of "Beef," even though the Golden Globe and Emmy-adorned Netflix and A24 miniseries has yet to receive an official green light for its sophomore run. Amidst the anticipation, Melton has confirmed his return to the fray, fueling excitement among fans.
"Beef," which captivated audiences with its tale of Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as Los Angeles dwellers whose impulsive road rage sets off a chain reaction of personal destruction, is set to take a fresh turn in Season 2. According to Deadline, the spotlight shifts to two warring couples, with Melton, a breakout star from "May December," and Cailee Spaeny, known for her role in "Priscilla," forming one of these tumultuous duos. While both Melton and Spaeny have independently verified their involvement, the identities of the other rumored cast members, including Oscar-winners Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan as the second couple, and Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway who were allegedly approached, remain a tantalizing mystery. This isn't the first time Isaac and Gyllenhaal have been in competition for the same role, with Gyllenhaal initially eyed for the lead in "Ex Machina" before Isaac secured the part.
As for the production timeline, Deadline initially hinted at an early fall 2024 kickoff, but Melton has since hinted at an even sooner start. "I'm absolutely thrilled. It's all gearing up to happen very soon," he enthused to V Man magazine during a lively chat with Greta Lee. "The material I've read is simply outstanding, some of the finest I've ever encountered."
Adding an extra layer of serendipity to the mix, Melton shared a delightful anecdote about serendipitously crossing paths with none other than "Beef" co-star Steven Yeun while traversing Europe's charming landscapes, further fueling the anticipation for what promises to be an even more explosive second season.
"Imagine my surprise when, on a recent train journey to the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland - yes, it sounds almost too surreal to be true - I stumbled upon none other than Steven Yeun and his entire clan, sharing the carriage!" Melton exclaimed, relishing the memory.
Melton's fellow "Beef" Season 2 star, Spaeny, divulged to the New York Times that filming for the series would commence right after she wrapped up her third installment in the "Knives Out" franchise, the eagerly anticipated "Wake Up Dead Man." This news follows the grand announcement that series creator, Lee Sung Jin, inked a sweeping deal with Netflix in November 2023, pledging to bring even more captivating projects to the streaming giant's roster.
In a previous conversation with IndieWire, Lee painted "Beef" as a tapestry woven with intricate threads: "It's a 35% Paul Thomas Anderson meets 'The Sopranos' comedic tapestry, where laughter intertwines with the frayed psyches of characters. Add to that 35% of the propulsive energy and watercooler moments of 'The White Lotus' on Netflix, and top it off with 30% of Ingmar Bergman's soulful melancholia fused with Hirokazu Koreeda's warmth. We're navigating life's tumultuous seas in metaphorical bubbles, projecting our deepest assumptions onto others, all while grappling with the complexities of our own existence."
Backstage at the Emmys, Lee, with a twinkle in his eye, teased about the myriad possibilities for "Beef's" future, shared via Variety: "The finale undoubtedly tied things up neatly, but if Netflix sees the potential for more, this could evolve into an anthology series, or take any number of exciting directions. It's all up to that enigmatic algorithm now. We're all ears, anxiously awaiting its verdict."
