Ever since its release, Owen Cooper’s Adolescence has sparked questions about whether the show is based on real events. Co-creator Stephen Graham clarified that instead of one specific incident, the show draws inspiration from the growing number of young boys involved in knife crimes. “There was an incident where a young boy [allegedly] stabbed a girl,” he told Tudum, adding,
It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’ And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again.
Graham shared that through the Netflix series, he wanted to highlight the societal issue with the question, “Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?” With the series now becoming a major hit, there have been conversations about a second season.
Is Adolescence Coming Back for Season 2?
Adolescence has become a massive hit for Netflix, and its staggering eight Emmy wins at the 2025 Emmy Awards only solidified the show’s success. Its popularity has naturally sparked speculation about a second season.
While Netflix has not officially confirmed plans for Season 2, co-creator Stephen Graham and the show’s executive producers have hinted at the possibility.
Plan B co-presidents Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, who also served as executive producers on the series, shared that they were in discussions about the “next iteration” of the series with director Philip Barantini.
Gardner told Deadline in April 2025 that there have been discussions about how to “widen the aperture, stay true to its DNA [and] not be repetitive.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Graham also appeared to confirm Season 2 following the show’s grand win at the 2025 Emmy Awards. “The format and how we make the program will continue,” he told ExtraTV.
Graham also offered a brief insight into the potential second season with an answer to whether Cooper will reprise his Emmy-winning role.
Will Owen Cooper Return in a Potential Adolescence Season 2?
While Season 2 of Adolescence remains in discussion, Stephen Graham has suggested that Owen Cooper will not be reprising his role in the next season. While discussing Season 2 of the series, Stephen Graham told ExtraTV that the Miller family from Season 1 will not return.
“Not from this family. This family is finished,” he said, adding, “We’re having talks and discussions about finding another story.” The Emmy winner shared that, though the show might continue, it will feature a new story and a fresh set of characters.
Starring alongside an ensemble cast, Owen Cooper played the role of Jamie Miller, the teenage boy who is arrested for the murder of a girl in his school. Cooper has earned widespread praise for his performance in the series, culminating in a historical win as he became the youngest male actor to win a Primetime Emmy Award.
Have you seen Adolescence yet? Do you think it deserved its grand Emmy wins?
Adolescence is available to watch on Netflix.
