In a delightful turn of events, Apple TV+ has officially greenlit a second season of its sun-kissed adaptation of Bad Monkey. This surprise hit from late 2024, based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel, follows disgraced former cop Andrew Yancy, played by Vince Vaughn, who embarks on a tumultuous journey as health inspector, unraveling a disturbing mystery. The show brilliantly captures Hiaasen’s signature style, intertwining themes of corruption and environmentalism, all while infusing his trademark dark humor against the vibrant backdrop of South Florida.
Despite Hiaasen’s decades-long status as a bestselling author, Hollywood has rarely tapped into his remarkable stories. Bad Monkey stands out as the first major adaptation to boldly present one of his comedic mysteries. While the finale introduced some changes from the source material, it laid a promising groundwork for the upcoming season. After some anticipation, Apple TV+ has confirmed that Bad Monkey will indeed return for a second season.
Confirmation of Bad Monkey Season 2
Apple TV+ Renews the Quirky Series
After a period of uncertainty that lasted several months, Apple TV+ finally announced its renewal of Bad Monkey in December 2024. Given its success, the renewal seemed inevitable, even if it wasn’t assured. Fans can rejoice as more episodes are on the way, although many aspects of Season 2 still remain under wraps. Sources suggest that the next installment may draw from Hiaasen’s sequel novel, Razor Girl, yet nothing is officially confirmed.
Premiering on August 14, 2024, and wrapping up on October 10, the series was crafted by Bill Lawrence, known for his work on Ted Lasso, who will continue to oversee the second season. Lawrence expressed his enthusiasm about returning to Hiaasen’s world alongside Vaughn and the talented cast, emphasizing the exciting opportunity to adapt the works of “an idol.”
“I hope that people know that Carl Hiaasen is an idol of mine and an inspiration for me as a writer. To get to go on telling his story with Vince Vaughn and this great cast, at least the characters who are still alive, is very exciting. I’m very thankful to our partners at Apple TV+ and Warner Bros, as well as the entire team that helps bring this show to life.”
Bad Monkey Season 2 Cast Details
Yancy is Back on the Case
As anticipation builds, it’s expected that the main cast will reprise their roles for the upcoming season, including:
| Actor | Role in Bad Monkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Vince Vaughn | Andrew Yancy |
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| Natalie Martinez | Rosa Campesino |
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| Michelle Monaghan | Bonnie Witt |
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| Ronald Peet | Neville Stafford |
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| John Ortiz | Rogelio Burton |
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| Todd Allen Durkin | Sheriff Summers |
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| David St. Louis | Carter “Egg”Ecclestone |
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Bad Monkey Season 2 Story Details
Potential Adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s “Razor Girl”
As the plot of the original Bad Monkey novel has been fully explored, the creators will need to either craft a new storyline or draw inspiration from Hiaasen’s works. There is speculation that the narrative may shift to Razor Girl, Hiaasen’s 2016 novel, which features Andrew Yancy once again at the center of the action. Unlike traditional sequels, Hiaasen’s style involves recurring characters from different stories, each facing a new mystery.
The upcoming season, if based on Razor Girl, will explore the tale of Merry Mansfield, a mafia kidnapper tasked with abducting a wealthy beach redeveloper. However, chaos ensues when she mistakenly snatches a reality TV star’s manager, leading to a cascade of humorous consequences that ultimately draws health inspector Andrew Yancy back into the fray.
With a fresh mystery comes a likely new cast of characters, although Yancy, Rosa, and Sheriff Summers are expected to return. Given the show’s creative deviations from the novels, there’s an opportunity to see how surviving characters evolve in response to new plotlines, offering depth that may often be absent in Hiaasen’s brisk narratives. Bad Monkey Season 2 holds tremendous potential for captivating storytelling.