Stephen Graham Teases Possible Return of Adolescence on Netflix
Stephen Graham hints at a potential second series of Adolescence after its award-winning debut. The acclaimed drama could be set for a comeback, but details remain under wraps.
After its explosive debut, the future of Adolescence has become a subject of much speculation. The drama, which follows Owen Cooper’s portrayal of a boy accused of a classmate’s murder, has left viewers wondering whether another series might be on the cards. Stephen Graham, who not only stars as the boy’s father but also co-created the programme with Jack Thorne, has been characteristically cagey about what lies ahead. When pressed at the Golden Globes about the possibility of a follow-up, Graham offered a typically enigmatic response:
I cannot answer that question because it's somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind and Jack's mind, and we'll pull it out in three or four years, so stay tuned.
Talk of a continuation first surfaced in April 2025, when Plan B Entertainment’s Dede Gardner revealed that the team was considering how to expand the story’s scope without losing its essence or falling into repetition. The first series made a clean sweep at the Golden Globes, taking home four awards, including Best Limited Series. Graham, Cooper, and Erin Doherty all received acting honours for their performances. With 142.6 million views, the show has become Netflix’s second most-watched English-language series to date. Despite its runaway success, the direction of any future instalments remains uncertain, especially as the initial run delved into the darker corners of online culture and the rise of the so-called manosphere.
Adolescence has not only captured the attention of critics but also found fans in unexpected places. Hideo Kojima, for one, praised the series for its technical prowess and emotional depth:
A masterful fusion of meticulously calculated one-shot cinematography and direction that draws out the show’s core themes. It vividly exposes the fear and anguish experienced by both children in their formative years and the families who watch over them.
The series’ blend of tense storytelling and striking visuals has clearly struck a chord, resonating with audiences and industry insiders alike. For now, those eager for more will have to content themselves with rewatching the first series, available to stream on Netflix.