Yellow Jackets surprised viewers with numerous shocking twists in the run-up to the third season of the series.

The series features a dual timeline: viewers follow a high school football team in the past that survives a plane crash in the wilderness, and are caught up more than two decades later as adults.

During the second season, which ended in May 2023, Lottie (Courtney Eaton) resigned as leader of the previous group and handed over the role to Natalie (Sophie Thatcher). After the teenagers ate Javi (Luciano Leroux) as a group they were awakened by a fire that was lit by Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) who burned down their hut.

The present timeline, meanwhile, took a dark turn when Lottie (Simone Kessell) suggested that the group must choose a victim for the darkness. Lisa (Nicole Maines) interjected, trying to defend Lottie, and as a result Misty (Christina Ricci) almost poisoned her to death. But at the last minute there was a twist: Natalie (Juliette Lewis) rushed to Lisa’s aid and was actually the one who died.

After the shocking finale aired, Ricci revealed that the cast was largely kept in the dark about the decision to have adult Natalie die.

“I didn’t know until shortly before we filmed the episode. We all love Juliette. I love Juliette. We’ve all been through so much on the show and we’ve grown so close and fought and made up and love each other – and we’re like sisters,” she recalled to diversity. “I think we were all very upset and sad that Natalie was dying. And it was hard to shoot. It was very emotional. We shot a lot more than we ended up with in the episode where I’m holding Juliette while she’s dying and stuff. Those were really hard scenes and really disturbing. The next day I met Juliette at the airport and we both started crying again.”

The actress hinted that Misty will struggle with how her decision led to Natalie’s death, adding: “It was a complete mistake. She made an impulsive decision – another typically immature, impulsive, selfish decision where she wanted to kill the person who would hurt her friend. She didn’t want her friends taken away from her, she wanted to keep what she wanted. It was a disastrous decision.”

Keep scrolling to learn all about Season 3 of Yellow Jackets:

Where does the story continue?

In the current timeline, Natalie was killed by Misty via a phenobarbital injection that was actually intended for Lisa. The death seemed to appease Lottie, who decided that the darkness was with them and claimed that she had accepted Natalie as a sacrifice. Lottie also hinted to Van (Lauren Ambrose) that the darkness will cure her cancer.

The past timeline focused on the aftermath of Javi’s drowning and how the group prepared him as their next meal. Travis (Kevin Alves) gave the others permission to eat his brother by biting off a piece of Javi’s heart. Coach Ben was disgusted by this behavior, which set off a chain of events that resulted in the group’s cabin burning down.

When will season 3 air?

Deadline reported in January 2024 that the writers room for season 3 had reopened three months earlier. Due to delays caused by the strikes in Hollywood, the third season of the hit Showtime series will not air until 2025.

Which actors will return?

Melanie LynskeyRicci, Yellow-brown cypressAmbrose, Kettle, Warren Kole And Sarah Desjardins are expected to return for the current storyline. Sophie Nélisse, Samantha Hanratty, Jasmin Savoy BrownThatcher, Eaton, Liv HewsonAlves and Krueger will also probably return to the past timeline.

Joel McHale joined the show as a guest star in August 2024.

Who left the series?

After the finale of the second season, Lewis confirmed her departure from the series.

“I am overwhelmed by the recognition of my work at @yellowjackets,” she wrote on Instagram in May 2023. “I believe this team can literally make and write anything, the chemistry and exquisite talent of this phenomenal – ever-growing – cast is something I will always be in awe of. You all have my heart. ❤️ Until we meet again.”

Lewis has not yet commented on whether there is a possibility of her returning in flashbacks.

Will Juliette Lewis still appear on the show?

Despite the death of her character on screen, Lewis said The Hollywood Reporter in January 2024 that she does not rule out a return via flashback.

“I don’t know anything,” she said at the time. “But I think it’s a good idea. We’ll see what happens.”

Why was the production date postponed?

Production was initially delayed until May 2023 due to the WGA strike. “Well, we had exactly one day in the writers’ room on #YellowJackets S3. It was incredible and creatively invigorating and so much fun and I’m so excited to get back to it as soon as the #WGA gets a fair deal. #1u #unionstrong,” co-creator Ashley Lyle wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that same month.

Two months later, actors and writers joined the picket line, and both strikes were settled by the end of the year.

Lyle gave an update on the writing process during a SAG-AFTRA panel in December 2023, saying, “We’re in the middle of writing. Everyone came back so incredibly enthusiastic, full of drive and creative energy. We’re having so much fun and very excited.”

What future awaits the teenagers?

Lyle commented on the decision to burn down the girls’ cabin, adding during the discussion: “We wanted to find a new way to test the team, and what better way to do that than to take away their big safety net?”

How will season 3 be different from previous seasons?

“We’re in the middle of it right now (writing). I don’t want to give too much away. I always get in trouble,” Lyle said The Wrap in March 2024. “I would say that we see Season 3 as kind of a return to Season 1 in terms of the mood. I’m just saying that the girls have been out there (in the woods) for a while and they’re doing well.”

Are there plans for further seasons?

While season 2 was still airing, Lyle hinted that five seasons were planned.

“We just want to tell the best story we can, and that means not rushing things or dragging things out. And we’ll find the natural conclusion,” she said. The Hollywood Reporter in March 2023 about their vision for Yellow Jackets.

Who could the Pit Girl be?

There are five characters from the past whose fates have not yet been revealed: Coach Ben, Mari, Akilah, Gen, and Melissa. Based on the glimpse viewers caught of Pit Girl in the pilot as the rest of the group chased her, Mari is the most likely candidate.

What can fans expect from season 3?

“Let me put it this way: Season 1 is chaotic and messy, Season 2 is still cold and dark and it was winter, and then the meltdown happened,” Hanratty told Entertainment Tonight in January 2024. “You’re going to see these people melt and really experience the brotherhood of these girls.”

Steven Kruger, who plays Coach Ben, hinted that the upcoming season will be the “wildest and bloodiest” yet.