It’s been over 1,000 days since Ratched premiered and still no season 2

This month will mark three years since Ratched starring Sarah Paulson, first premiered on Netflix on September 18, 2020. Ratched serves as an origin story and prequel series to the classic 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, based on the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey. Most people know “Nurse Mildred Ratched” as the cruel villainess from the story, but Ratched on Netflix is Ryan Murphy’s new take on the iconic character.

Netflix initially ordered 18 episodes spread across two seasons toward the start of their partnership with Murphy. The first season consisted of eight episodes, and fans have been waiting for the rumored ten-episode Ratched season 2 for literal years now without so much as a whisper regarding its status.

Is Ratched season 2 even happening at this point? In recent years, Netflix has canceled many of its “renewed” shows, including GLOW, The Society, and I Am Not Okay With This. Will Ratched be the next show to fall victim to a reverse renewal? Here’s everything we know about the rumored second season.

Ratched initially received a two-season order from Netflix

When Netflix first picked up Ratched, the show received a two-season order, or 18 episodes in total, so it was renewed for a second season before the first one even aired. Season 2 is expected to be ten episodes since the first season was only eight.

Is Ratched season 2 still happening at Netflix?

In June 2023, it was revealed that Ryan Murphy would be leaving Netflix for Disney. Netflix has already renewed two additional Murphy projects, Monster and The Watcher. Considering how successful those shows were, it’s unlikely that Netflix would cancel them. I’m assuming Murphy has a separate contract to continue overseeing those two even though he’s leaving.

However, there still hasn’t been any mention of Ratched and since Murphy is jumping ship, it seems like the show might be officially dead in the water.

September 20, 2023, will mark three years since Ratched debuted on Netflix, and we haven’t heard anything regarding the show’s status since then. Netflix has not formally canceled the series, but it’s possible it was quietly binned.

At this point, even star Sarah Paulson doesn’t know if season 2 will ever happen. It’s starting to seem increasingly unlikely. Maybe pre-pandemic, we might have said it was rare for renewed shows to get canceled, but that occurs with increasing frequency these days. Anything could happen.

Will Ratched season 2 be the final season?

If Ratched season 2 does eventually happen, there is a good chance it will be the final season since Netflix doesn’t appear super invested in the show anymore. Ryan Murphy’s other Netflix series, The Watcher and Monster, seem more important to the streamer than Ratched. Monster even received a rare, two-season renewal, extending it to at least a third season.

Previously when Paulson spoke about the show, she said the writers had an endgame in mind, so it sounds like Ratched was always meant to be just two seasons.

Does Ratched season 2 have a release date?

No, Ratched season 2 has no release date and will not be released in 2023.

Has Ratched season 2 started filming?

As far as we know, Ratched season 2 has not started filming or even gone into pre-production. There has been no news or updates on the status of the show’s second season. Unless everything is being kept secret, we have no updates regarding the status of Ratched season 2 or the show’s future in general.

The WGA and SAG are currently on strike, meaning the show would not be able to film right now even if it were ready to go into production. Hopefully, the strikes will be resolved soon if the studios will agree to pay the unions fair wages, but we still have no confirmation from Netflix if Ratched season 2 is still happening.

Ratched season 1 ending explained

At the end of the first season, Mildred leaves town with her girlfriend Gwendolyn so they can find her the best cancer treatment possible. Mildred wants to leave everything behind and start over somewhere new with Gwendolyn, but the end of the season sets up a big confrontation with her brother, Edmund.

After receiving the death penalty, Mildred originally planned to mercy-kill Edmund so he wouldn’t have to die in an electric chair. Charlotte helps Edmund break out of prison before she can, and Edmund is angry when he hears about Mildred’s original plan to kill him.

What could Ratched season 2 be about?

The season 1 finale ends with Edmund and Charlotte passing Mildred as they escape, and it’s implied that when the show returns, it will become a cat-and-mouse chase between brother and sister as Edmund goes after his sister. Somehow, the second season will also likely put Mildred on the path to becoming the terrifying woman we know her as in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Ratched season 2 cast updates

There haven’t been any updates on the show’s future, but if filming gets underway, we can probably expect star Sarah Paulson to return and some of the other main characters, like Finn Wittrock’s Edmund Tolleson and Cynthia Nixon as Gwendolyn Briggs.

Nixon also stars in the Sex and the City revival And Just Like That. Season 2 of the HBO series started filming in October 2022 and just recently finished filming this April, so it’s possible Nixon could be eligible to film Ratched later this year. Wittrock was previously cast in the upcoming HBO series Lanterns, based on the DC superhero Green Lantern.

However, in October 2022, it was revealed that Lanterns would be reworked and focus on John Stewart instead of Guy Gardner, who Wittrock was cast to play. It’s unclear if Wittrock is still attached to the project. Sophie Okonedo is likely to return as Edmund’s accomplice Charlotte Wells.

Sharon Stone and Jon Jon Briones probably will not be back since their characters, Lenore Osgood and Richard Hanover, were killed at the end of season 1.

Will Sarah Paulson return for Ratched season 2?

As mentioned above, even Paulson doesn’t know for sure if Ratched will continue on Netflix, but surely the show’s future hinges on her involvement. While the series could live without the other characters, it would be hard to proceed without its star and titular actress involved. If Ratched season 2 finally gets underway, we can safely assume Paulson will return.

Stay tuned to Netflix Life for more details on Ratched and its future on Netflix.