A couple of weeks after announcing the romantic comedy series to be a ratings hit for the new streaming service, HBO Max has chosen to greenlight a second season of the Sam Boyd-created and Anna Kendrick-starring and executive-produced anthology Love Life.
RELATED: HBO Max Speeding Up Love Life Episode Release Schedule
Originally planned as a traditional weekly series, WarnerMedia’s new streaming service is looking to capitalize on the large viewership its first scripted series received by choosing to instead release episodes 4-6 on Thursday, June 4 followed by debuting the final four episodes of the first season on Thursday, June 11.
“It’s so rewarding to see Love Life embraced as an immediate hit. We are proud to pick up a second season of our first Max scripted original comedy,” Kevin Reilly, Chief Content Officer at HBO Max, President, TNT, TBS and truTV, said in a statement. “We salute Anna, our creative team and partners at Lionsgate, and are delighted audiences have gravitated to Love Life in such a significant way. As a day one original, it is gratifying to see the strong response.”
Love Life is HBO Max’s first full-length scripted series about the journey from first love to last love, and how the people we’re with along the way make us into who we are when we finally end up with someone forever. The series will follow a different protagonist’s quest for love each season, with each half-hour episode telling the story of one of their relationships.
Season 1 features Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect), Zoë Chao (Downhill, Strangers), Peter Vack (Someone Great, The Bold Type), Sasha Compere (Miracle Workers, Uncorked), and Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Another Year).
“Love Life’s first season is ultimately a tale of personal resilience, human connection and how those we love shape our lives,” Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max, said in a statement. “It’s clear to me why audiences are responding with such enormous enthusiasm, and it’s with great pleasure that my creative team and I look forward to continuing our relationship with this talented group of executive producers and Lionsgate to make television that resonates.”
This fresh take on a romantic comedy anthology series is from creator and co-showrunner Sam Boyd (In a Relationship) and is produced by Lionsgate Television and Feigco Entertainment. Lovelife is also executive produced by Kendrick, Feig, and Dan Magnante along with Boyd and Bridget Bedard (Transparent, Ramy), who is also serving a co-showrunner. In addition, Boyd also wrote the pilot and directs the series.
“We couldn’t be more excited to make another season of Love Life with the amazing people at HBO Max and Lionsgate Television, and to have the opportunity to explore a whole new protagonist. If only as a way to continue processing our own romantic damage,” creator, co-showrunner and executive producer Sam Boyd and co-showrunner and executive producer Bridget Bedard, said in a statement.
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The last time Kendrick teamed up with Feig, the duo produced A Simple Favor, co-starring Blake Lively. That film ended up grossing $97.5 million in the United States off a $20 million budget and received favorable reviews, amassing an 85% score on RottenTomatoes.
“We were thrilled to be the first scripted series to debut on HBO Max and now we’re doubly thrilled to be their first second season pickup,” executive producer Paul Feig said in a statement. “Our partnership with the entire team at the network has been wonderful and we can’t wait to dive in for more. We’re loving life at HBO Max!”
HBO Max is officially launching on May 27 and will be offering an impressive direct-to-consumer experience with 10,000 hours of premium content including Max Originals, the entire HBO service, together with beloved franchises, titles past and present from WarnerMedia’s deep library of fan favorites including motion picture and TV series from Warner Bros.’ 100-year content collection, New Line, library titles from DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes, a selection of classic films curated in partnership with TCM, and more.
“It’s been a labor of love working with everyone on Love Life and all who helped shaped Darby and brought her story to life. I am excited to be able to collaborate again with the team on a new character and their journey,” executive producer and season one lead Anna Kendrick said in a statement.
