Paramount Seal the Fate of the ‘Yellowjackets’ with Season 4 Update

It appears that Showtime’s hit series Yellowjackets will be coming to an end soon. Yellowjackets follows two sets of characters in stories across different timelines, the first as a group of young girls whose school soccer team ends up stranded in the forest after a plane crash and do whatever it takes to survive, while the other storyline follows those characters in the present day and how they have adjusted to the world and how that is threatened when secrets from their past come forth. The show debuted in November 2021 and quickly became a must-see television series, returning for Season 2 in March 2023 and Season 3 in February 2025.

Variety confirms that Yellowjackets‘ upcoming Season 4 will indeed be its final season. The writers are currently working on the season, knowing it will indeed be their final one. Yellowjackets Season 4 is expected to air sometime in 2026. Series creators and co-showrunners Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson said in a statement following the news:

After three incredible seasons, and great consideration, we’re excited to announce that we will be bringing the story of Yellowjackets to its twisted conclusion in this fourth and final season. We’ve always known there would come a point when the story would tell us it wants to end, and it’s our belief that our job — our responsibility — is to listen. Telling this emotional, wild, and deeply human story has been a profoundly meaningful experience and a true honor for us, and we’re so very grateful to the brilliant cast, crew and writers who have bravely gone on the journey with us to bring it to life. Most of all, we want to thank the fans who have stuck with us through every moment, mystery and meal — the Hive is nothing without you! We can’t wait to share the final chapter with you and hope you find it…delicious. All the best, A & B”

‘Yellowjackets’ is Shifting Their Plans

Showtime

The decision to end Yellowjackets is both surprising but also a given. It is surprising, given the series’ popularity, but the story’s natural endpoint is that the girls in the past storyline eventually need to be discovered and rescued, so there was always a built-in conclusion that could only be put off for so long. What might have caught many off guard, though, was that in 2023, the series creators mentioned they had a five-season plan, meaning they will need to readjust and condense some of their original ideas for the final season.

Part of the decision to conclude Yellowjackets early might be the cast’s busy schedule. Since the series premiered, the stars have become some of the most in-demand talent. Ella Purnell was a regular in Season 1 but has since moved on to star in Fallout. Sophie Thatcher has become an in-demand star with roles in films like Companion and Heretic, and is set to star in the now-delayed Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 2. Jasmin Savoy Brown will return as Mindy Meeks-Martin in Scream 7. Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, and more have gotten a new career boost thanks to their parts on Yellowjackets.

Another factor in Yellowjackets‘ conclusion is to go out on top. While Season 1 was widely praised by fans and critics, Season 2 and Season 3 are often seen as a step-down in terms of critical reaction. However, Yellowjackets Season 3 was the most-watched season yet, with the season finale seeing a 54% increase from Season 2. Yellowjackets is still a big draw for viewers, and now with the news of the final season, audiences will certainly tune in to see how it answers all of its lingering mysteries.