After the fourth season of You hit Netflix in 2023, fans are left wondering about the future of the show and its infamous serial killer. In the newest season, Joe (played by Penn Badgley) tries to reinvent himself in London as a university professor. But his old habits come back to haunt him when a mysterious killer starts targeting his wealthy new friends and framing Joe for the murders. By the season’s end, Joe realizes the shocking truth: he’s been framing himself! And things just get crazier from there.
So, what’s next for Joe? Here’s what we know about his upcoming story.
You Season 5: Has You been renewed for season 5?
Yes, Netflix confirmed on March 24, 2023, that the fifth season of You will be its final one. Sera Gamble, who has been the showrunner for seasons 1 through 4, will continue as an executive producer. However, Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo will take over as co-showrunners for the last season. This change might bring a fresh perspective to the series’ conclusion.
Gamble said:
“As I step back from day-to-day showrunning to focus on new projects, I’m immensely grateful to co-creator and all-around genius Greg Berlanti, Caroline Kepnes, my friends at Berlanti Productions and Alloy Entertainment, and our steadfast partners at Warner Bros and Netflix. Making the show alongside our writers, producers, directors, cast and crew has been an honor and ridiculously fun. And I feel lucky to have worked with an artist as gifted and thoughtful as Penn Badgely. I’m proud of what we’ve all accomplished and feel privileged to pass the torch. I’m excited to watch and support the You team as they bring Joe Goldberg’s journey to its delightfully twisted conclusion.”
Producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter also shared their thoughts, stating that they plan to continue bringing Sera Gamble’s ideas to life for years to come, showcasing their commitment to her vision.
Before the official announcement, the renewal of You seemed almost certain given its immense popularity. Gamble had already hinted at her intentions for the show to continue over several seasons. In a 2019 interview with The Hollywood Reporter after season 2, she confidently mentioned, “I’m not afraid to say that we could definitely follow Joe for several more seasons.”
In a 2023 interview with IndieWire, Penn Badgley, who stars as Joe, expressed his belief that the series needs one more season. “It feels to me like Joe needs to face the consequences of his actions,” he said. “Now that he’s gained all this power and wealth, the stakes are even higher. But, of course, the direction of the show isn’t up to me. We need to handle this responsibly and not just keep it going because it’s popular.”
Badgley also noted that the creators had planned for the next season to be the final one if it happened. He hinted that the ending would likely be dramatic, suggesting that there’s a grand plan for the conclusion. He added that if the show ended with the season four finale, it would be “somewhat satisfying,” though he found it somewhat unsettling that Joe might appear to have “won” in the end. He felt this wouldn’t be the ending fans might truly want.
You Season 5 plot: What will the fifth season be about?
The final season of You is set to return to New York, where the series originally began, and it promises some intriguing twists. One notable return is from someone in Joe’s past. While the exact identity of this person remains a mystery, Penn Badgley hinted in a Tudum video that many loose ends from Joe’s history will be addressed. The big question for fans is: who will reappear?
Sera Gamble teased that the next season’s direction will become clear by the end of season 4. In the season 4 finale (spoiler alert), Joe reveals his true self and dark past to his girlfriend Kate (played by Charlotte Ritchie). Surprisingly, Kate accepts Joe and helps him craft a new narrative, portraying him as a survivor of his previous partner, Love Quinn. With Kate’s support and resources, Joe returns to New York with a fresh start and a clean slate. He even remarks that his killing spree will be easier now, as he’s embraced his murderous identity rather than suppressing it. It remains unclear if Kate knows about Joe’s role in the death of her billionaire father, Tom Lockwood, which could set up some intense drama for the final season.
Gamble hinted to ELLE.com that Joe, now more aware of his dark side, might be more strategic in his actions. Rather than randomly committing murders, he’ll likely plan his moves more carefully. But knowing Joe, he might still cause chaos.
As Joe heads back to New York, he’s returning to his old stomping grounds with a new level of access and resources, shedding the anonymity he once had. Gamble noted that Joe now resembles the “Joe Classic” from earlier seasons, and he’s back in the circles he used to observe from a distance.
There’s also the unresolved story of Nadia, Joe’s sharp literature student who discovers his secret but is framed for her boyfriend Edward’s murder after Joe kills him. By the end of the season, Nadia is imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit. Fans are hoping she might find a way to escape and seek justice in the final season. As for Nadia’s and Marienne’s potential returns, Gamble mentioned that these details are still in the works, with more to come if the show continues.
Tati Gabrielle, who plays Marienne, also expressed hope for a satisfying resolution. She feels Marienne’s story isn’t finished and believes she’s looking for justice rather than revenge.
“We have an idea for season five that we’re excited about. It was never anyone’s intention to run this one into the ground. When we’re done, we’ll be done. And we’ll pack it up. Even in the early conversations with Penn, the idea was not to crank out episodes forever; it’s to feel like we have told the complete story. And though I feel like tonally, we’re very different and we are not trying to sell Joe as any kind of a hero with a straight face. This is a show that is in the tradition of these single-lead shows with a guy who does increasingly bad things. The beautiful thing about it is that when his arc is complete, so is the show.”
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You Season 5 cast: Who will be in the cast?
So before we get into others, let’s get into the obvious: Penn Badgley will continue to lead the show as Joe. As each season usually sees Joe mixing with a new crowd or even moving to a new city, new casting announcements for season 5 are no shocker.
Madeline Brewer will join Penn Badgley in Season 5 of YOU.
Brewer plays Bronte, an enigmatic and free-spirited playwright who comes to work for Joe at his bookstore. As the two connect over literature and loss, she stokes in him a nostalgia for his former self, causing him to… pic.twitter.com/eMzLWJKsDC
— Netflix (@netflix) March 8, 2024
In early March 2024, it was revealed that Madeline Brewer, known for her role in The Handmaid’s Tale, will join the cast as Bronte. Bronte is described as an “enigmatic and free-spirited playwright” who begins working at Joe’s bookstore. Her connection with Joe, through their shared love of literature and personal loss, reignites his nostalgia for his old self, making him question his current life.
Later in March, Variety reported that Anna Camp from Pitch Perfect and Griffin Matthews are also joining the cast. Camp will play both of Joe’s twin sisters-in-law, Raegan and Maddie Lockwood. Raegan is the ambitious and ruthless CFO of Lockwood Corp, who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, while Maddie is the seemingly frivolous twin with a hidden manipulative streak. Matthews will portray Teddy Lockwood, Joe’s “snarky yet loyal brother-in-law.”
In May, Deadline announced more additions: Natasha Behnam from The Girls on the Bus, Pete Ploszek from Parks & Recreation, Tom Francis from Sunset Boulevard, and b from Station 19. Ploszek will play Harrison, Raegan’s husband and a former pro football player, while Francis takes on the role of aspiring author Clayton. Behnam and b will play characters named Dominique and Phoenix, respectively. Additionally, Nava Mau from Baby Reindeer, who recently received an Emmy nomination, will guest star as Detective Marquez, potentially crossing paths with Joe.
As for the returning cast from season 4, including Lukas Gage and Tati Gabrielle, it remains to be seen who will make a comeback for the final season.
You Season 5: Will this be the last season?
Yes, unfortunately.
Badgley had already hinted that You was nearing its end when he mentioned to British GQ, “I know what Greg [Berlanti, the co-creator] suggested a while ago as the right way to wrap things up. If there’s another season, it’s going to be a grand finale.”
When season 5 was confirmed, Peter Friedlander, Vice President of Scripted Series at Netflix, US and Canada, added, “We’re excited—and a bit anxious—to see how Joe Goldberg’s story concludes. One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be an unforgettable ending.”