*Warning: This article contains spoilers*
We might still be reeling from those shock twists at the end of You season four, but that doesn’t mean we’re not already looking ahead to what might be next for the hot-yet-unhinged protagonist Joe Goldberg.
Luckily, Netflix has confirmed that there will be one final season – and our minds are whirring already. Here's everything you need to know about You season five…
Firstly, has You season five been confirmed?
It has indeed! On March 24, Netflix officially confirmed the news that You would return for a fifth season – adding that, sadly, it will also be its last.
Netflix shared the news via Instagram, posting a short clip accompanied by the caption ‘Goodbye... YOU. Joe Goldberg will return for the fifth and final season of YOU.’ The clip also revealed that season five of You is scheduled to be released at some point in 2024. Is it bad that we’re already counting down the days…?
The hit show’s executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter also said in a statement that they had ‘always conceived it as a five-season journey’ – so it looks like we’re finally going to get the satisfying conclusion we had always hoped for. Or will we? With Joe Goldberg, we truly never know…
Who will make up the You season five cast?
Details of the You season five cast have not yet been revealed, but of course, our favourite hot-yet-terrifying serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) will be front and centre for the final season – and we can’t wait to see what he gets up to next.
As for the rest of the cast, nothing has been confirmed but we can safely assume that Joe’s new girlfriend and partner in crime Kate (Charlotte Richie) will be back by his side. The finale of season four also revealed that Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) and Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman) are still alive, so there is certainly a chance that they could reprise their roles too – though they’d do best to stay well away from Joe, in our opinion.
Season four of You saw the introduction of a whole new cast as Joe moved to London disguised as Professor Jonathan Moore, so it’s likely that the same will happen in the final season. Last we heard, Joe and Kate were living together in New York and had created a new life for themselves – so perhaps that means we’ll be treated to a whole new circle of friends for them too.
Speaking at Netflix's fan event, Tudum 2023, Badgley said that, while he couldn't confirm who from Goldberg's past could return for season five, 'We all know there are many loose ends from Joe's past. The question is, "Who are you?"' A video featuring clips of characters from throughout the show's run flashed by, including a shot of Ellie from season two. Ellie and Joe met after he moved to Los Angeles, and she became an unlikely friend and mentee of the stalker.
'We wanted to bring Ellie back [in season 4], and we heard, "Oh, Jenna is doing some show,"' You showrunner Sera Gamble told IndieWire in February, referencing Ortega's lead role in hit Netflix series Wednesday. 'We have ideas for Ellie if her schedule allows her to visit us again.'
Watch this space...
What will the You season five plot be?
Your guess is as good as ours at this stage! Details of the You season five plot still under wraps, however we imagine it will be centred around Joe and Kate’s new life in New York.
The end of season four revealed that the couple had moved to America, having managed to erase all traces of Joe’s murky past. We also heard that Joe and Kate had set up a philanthropic foundation together, hoped to open art schools in New York and London, and that Joe had even ‘spontaneously’ bought himself a bookshop. We can only imagine what the serial killer will get up to now that he has a ‘clean slate’ as well as Kate’s vast resources at his disposal…
Last month, Badgley spoke to Entertainment Tonight about his character’s situation at the end of season four – and hinted at what we can expect him to get up to next season. 'Well, clearly he's back home in New York... But now he's sort of got unlimited resources. He actually has the power he's not had,’ said Badgley. ‘With Love and the Quinn family, he had power but he didn't want it. He didn't want to take it... The family didn't really want to give it to him. I think now, he's really embracing his lower nature. He's letting the animal take over the human basically. He's letting the predator take over his... heart.'
In terms of Joe’s character going forward, Badgley added: 'He's probably going to be just quite unhinged, I guess. I don't know though, I really don't know.'
Peter Friedlander, Vice President of Scripted Series for Netflix, has also hinted at a big dramatic ending to the show: ‘We’re excited — and a bit terrified — to see how it all ends for Joe Goldberg, but one thing is for sure: You are in for an unforgettable ending.’
Is there a release date for You season five?
Netflix has not announced an official release date for You season five yet – but we do know that it will be sometime in 2024. The countdown is on!
Has filming started for You season five?
Yes! As of March 2024, Netflix has announced that the fifth and final season of You has entered production. A first-look photo of Badgley as Joe has also been released, showing the killer (now clean-shaven) walking the streets of New York, where the action started back in season one.
We will continue to update this article as more information comes to light.
Seasons 1-4 of You are available to stream now on Netflix.
Clementina Jackson is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health UK, covering everything from celebrity style and catwalk trends to buzzy brands and the cult products you need to know about (and shop before they sell out). She also commissions first-person and long-form fashion features, oversees shopping content and tests out the latest industry innovations. Clementina previously worked as Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, during which time she profiled high-end designers, interviewed everyone from Priyanka Chopra to Jane Fonda, and launched the Cut To Size franchise to shine a light on size-inclusive fashion. During this time, she was also named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner. Having worked in journalism for more than six years, Clementina has also written for the likes of Harper’s Bazaar, Red, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller and Italy Segreta, covering everything from luxury travel, lifestyle and restaurants to photography and interiors.
