"Cruel Summer" Renewed for Third Season, Fans Eagerly Await Return

In a highly anticipated announcement, the popular Freeform series "Cruel Summer" has been renewed for a third season. As of August 8th, 2025, the network has confirmed the show's return, with lead actors Olivia Holt and Jessica Biel both expressing their excitement to reprise their roles.

Holt, who plays the character of Kate Wallis, took to Instagram to share the news, writing, "Kate Wallis, it's good to be you again." Biel, who served as an executive producer on the first two seasons, also shared the update on her Instagram Story, stating, "We're baaack" with a side-eye emoji.

The first season of "Cruel Summer," which premiered in 2021, quickly became Freeform's most-watched show in history. The series, created by Bert V. Royal, follows the lives of popular Kate Wallis and nerdy Jeannette Turner across three summers, as they navigate the aftermath of Kate's mysterious disappearance.

With numerous twists and turns, the first season kept viewers on the edge of their seats, as they tried to unravel the truth behind Kate's disappearance and Jeannette's potential involvement. The season finale revealed that Jeannette never saw Kate while she was being held hostage, but did hear her begging for help from the basement of the perpetrator's house.

The announcement of a third season has fans eagerly anticipating the return of their favorite characters and the continuation of the captivating storyline.