Los Angeles, May 8, 2026, 13:09 PDT
- Shooting for Season 2 of “Forever” is officially underway in Los Angeles, Netflix said. New faces on set include Malaika Guttoh, Avery Wills Jr., and Tre McBride. Netflix
- Production kicks off just a year after the first season hit Netflix, marking a fast turnaround for the streamer’s young-adult romance, which quickly found an audience.
- No premiere date yet from Netflix. Cameras are slated to keep rolling until Sept. 10, 2026, according to a production report, which suggests the series probably won’t be back until 2027.
Production is underway in Los Angeles for Season 2 of “Forever,” with Netflix bringing in three new faces as Mara Brock Akil’s romance follows Justin and Keisha into the next stage of their lives. Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. are back in the main roles, joined this season by Malaika Guttoh as a regular. Avery Wills Jr. and Tre McBride also come aboard, both set for recurring appearances. Netflix
Timing’s notable here. Shooting kicked off exactly one year after the show’s May 8, 2025, Netflix premiere—a move that keeps the revived teen and young adult drama active in the streamer’s scripted lineup, instead of letting it fade post-renewal. According to What’s on Netflix, Season 1 pulled in 103.2 million hours watched and 15.9 million finished views over its initial run, spending four weeks inside Netflix’s global Top 10.
Location plays a role here. “Forever” will remain in California, thanks to the state’s expanded film and TV tax credit program—a subsidy designed to ease production expenses. The California Film Commission named “Forever” Season 2 on its list of returning productions, pointing out the program has driven over $30.6 billion in economic activity since 2009. California Film Commission
Brock Akil, who created, runs, and executive produces the show, said it’s “back in Los Angeles” and shifting focus this season—from romance to friendship. According to Netflix, the story jumps ahead four years: Justin and Keisha, now juggling new jobs, relationships, and grown-up goals, find their paths unexpectedly colliding again in summer 2023. Netflix
Guttoh takes on the role of Ameena, with Wills Jr. cast as Jaden and McBride stepping in as Elijah. Coming back for another season: Simone returns as Keisha, Cooper is back as Justin, Karen Pittman reprises Dawn, Wood Harris continues as Eric, and Xosha Roquemore returns as Shelly.
This season’s music team gets a shakeup: Grammy winner Khris Riddick-Tynes steps in as executive music producer. Kier Lehman is back handling music supervision, and Until Tomorrow stays on board for original tracks.
Loosely based on Judy Blume’s novel, “Forever” shifts the action to Los Angeles, centering on Black teens instead of the 1970s New Jersey backdrop from the original. Netflix wasted little time before renewing the show for a second season—making the announcement on May 14, 2025, just under a week after debuting Season 1. Netflix
California’s incentives are turning into a battleground for productions. In this latest round, the state spotlighted “Fallout” Season 3, “The Night Agent” Season 4, and “Baywatch” as examples drawing or holding onto TV jobs in California—meaning “Forever” faces the same scramble for crews, studio space, and spending. California Film Commission
Brock Akil told the California Film Commission that keeping “FOREVER” in California “means everything,” describing the production as a “love letter to Los Angeles.” Colleen Bell, who directs the commission, said the state’s push to invest in creative talent is pulling productions back and helping secure lasting value for California. California Film Commission
Netflix still hasn’t locked in a date for Season 2, and with a longer production window, the schedule could shift. What’s on Netflix says shooting should keep going until Sept. 10, and the series is eyeing a 2027 premiere. That gap brings a risk: the new focus on a time jump and post-first-love storylines will need to keep fans interested, especially those drawn by the direct spark between Justin and Keisha in season one.
