‘Sweetpea,’ Starring Ella Purnell, to Return for Second Season
Sweetpea, the British comedy revenge thriller series starring Fallout’s Ella Purnell, will return for a second season, Sky and Starz unveiled on Tuesday. The “coming-of-rage” show is produced by See-Saw Films and Fanboy in association with Sky Studios.
Season two “will see Rhiannon Lewis (Purnell) return with a vengeance as her killer secret continues to spiral and she becomes more twisted than ever,” Starz said in a statement.
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“Being part of Rhiannon’s coming-of-rage journey has been a career highlight for me, and to see fans engage with and relate to our oddball Rhiannon, in all her complexity, feels truly special,” said star and executive producer Purnell. “I cannot wait for audiences to see what she does next.”
When talking about her turn playing a serial killer, Purnell recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about getting into the mindset of her character and her evolution by the end of the season. “I can never justify murder, and I can never understand how you can take someone’s life. I can’t,” she said. “But what I can get on board with — and what I can relate to — is the feeling of being seen and having impact. And, what could be more permanent and impactful than ending someone’s life?”
After the shocking season finale, writer and executive producer Kirstie Swain looked ahead to the longevity of the series, which is based on the book series of the same name by English author CJ Skuse. “Season one [is] almost like a prequel to the book. So, lots more to come. She’s an amazing character, what a gift, and there’s so much source material as well,” she told THR.
Sky and its streaming service Now aired season one of the show in the U.K., while Starz released the series in the U.S.
“Sweetpea is a highly original, character-driven show, led by the fantastic Ella Purnell, which has captivated audiences around the world,” said Meghan Lyvers, executive director of original scripted, Sky U.K. & Ireland, of the season two announcement. “Fans have binged this unique, darkly comic thriller, and they can’t wait to see what Rhiannon will do next.”
Added Alison Hoffman, president, of Starz Networks: “Ella Purnell’s killer performance captured the journey of a woman finally finding her voice, and we’re thrilled with the response from critics and viewers. Sweetpea’s unique take on female agency is a perfect complement to Starz’s slate of programming for women.”
Patrick Walters, executive producer at See-Saw Films and Fanboy, added: “Making Sweetpea has been the most exhilarating of rollercoaster rides, and we’re so excited to be partnering again with Sky Studios, and to have Starz back as the show’s U.S. home.” He added: “Rhiannon already feels like an iconic character.”
NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution is handling international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios.
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