YouTube Premium was born in an attempt to compete with streaming service giants. Although the network was short-lived, it brought viewers Wayne, a dark action comedy set in Brockton, Massachusetts. The series follows the vigilante teenager Wayne and his crush Del on their cross-country quest to retrieve his dead father's stolen Pontiac Trans Am.
After its 2019 release, Wayne became an instant cult classic, rivaling other popular dark comedies like The End of the F***ing World. Rotten Tomatoes gave the series a 100 percent critic approval rating and called it, "the most thoughtfully violent series you'll see all year." Despite its success, Wayne became an unfortunate victim of the streaming wars, leaving fans pondering Season 2's fate.
As Wayne co-writer Rhett Reese said on his Twitter, "Wayne wasn't canceled, per se. Rather, its network was canceled." Luckily, the series found a new home on Amazon Prime in November 2020, gaining recognition from a broader audience. Although there is no official confirmation from Amazon regarding Season 2, it's a strong possibility considering the show's critical acclaim. It's been done before with YouTube originals, as exemplified by Cobra Kai linking up with Netflix and getting a renewal soon after.
Wayne's longevity essentially comes down to its success on Prime. The creator Shawn Simmons and lead stars Mark McKenna and Ciara Bravo have taken to social media, promoting the show's arrival on the platform and encouraging viewership. In an interview with Screenrant, Simmons also stated the Season 2 premiere is already written, and the entire season is mapped out. All that's needed is the go-ahead from Amazon.
Season 2 will likely pick up from the Season 1's finale, which concludes with Wayne in jail, holding onto Del's nameplate necklace. It's probable Wayne will try breaking out of prison to find Del, as the duo was separated against their will.
Although Season 1 arguably has a tied-up ending, the storyline and investable characters beg for further exploration. Simmons has created characters reminiscent of Bonnie and Clyde, who will stop at nothing to be together. With so much anger and a Dirty Harry-inspired grit, it's not outside the realm of Wayne's nature to orchestrate a prison break.
Without an official renewal, Season 2's release date is all speculation. If Amazon does order a second season, it probably won't be available until early 2022. Although it's exciting that the cast and crew are onboard to continue Wayne, it's still a long time to wait for fans who've been following the series since its 2019 YouTube debut.
Created by Shawn Simmons, Wayne stars Mark McKenna and Ciara Bravo. The show is available on Amazon Prime.