Picture: Netflix
Mara Brock Akil’s hit coming-of-age drama Forever is officially returning for a second season, with its renewal coming in May 2025 as part of the Netflix Upfronts. Since that renewal midway through last year, things have been very quiet, but good news: cameras to start rolling very soon. Here’s our comprehensive roundup of everything we know so far about Forever season 2, including a new look at the upcoming filming schedule.
Based on the classic Judy Blume novel and modernized by creator Mara Brock Akil (Moesha, Girlfriends), Forever captured audiences and critics attention in May of last year. Transporting the story from 1970s New Jersey to sunny 2018 Los Angeles, the first season introduced us to Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), two Black teens navigating the complicated waters of a high school romance.
As a reminder, the series spent four full weeks in the top 10s, picking up 15.9M views. By the end of 2025, it had risen to 24.4M views. Here’s a breakdown of those four weeks:
| Week in Top 10 | Week Period | Hours Viewed | Views / CVE | Weekly Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 4 to May 11, 2025 | 24,200,000 (New) | 3,700,000 | 3 |
| 2 | May 11 to May 18, 2025 | 43,700,000 (+81%) | 6,700,000 | 3 |
| 3 | May 18 to May 25, 2025 | 20,600,000 (-53%) | 3,200,000 | 7 |
| 4 | May 25 to Jun 1, 2025 | 14,700,000 (-29%) | 2,300,000 | 10 |
Following a bittersweet season finale that left fans wanting more, Netflix officially gave the green light for a second season. Here is what’s next for Keisha, Justin, and the production of Forever Season 2.
When and where is Forever Season 2 filming?
We have some exciting news for fans eager for updates: Production for Forever Season 2 is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 8th. Filming will be taking place across two primary locations: Los Angeles, California and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, according to production sheets.
The return to Los Angeles is expected, given the show’s deeply rooted LA backdrop.
Add to that that the California Film Commission confirmed a return for the series to the state back in November.
“I’ve been part of California’s film incentive program since its inception, and continuing FOREVER here for Season 2 means everything. This show is both a love story and a love letter to Los Angeles— the city that raised me and shaped my voice as a storyteller,” Mara Brock Akil said in a press release, “Working with world-class crews while keeping jobs in my community– that’s not just filmmaking, that’s legacy. California nurtures dreamers, and I’m grateful to keep dreaming here.”
However, the addition of Martha’s Vineyard is an incredibly intriguing development for the show’s sophomore outing. Known as an elite summer haven, Martha’s Vineyard—specifically areas like Oak Bluffs—has a rich history as a beloved vacation destination. Could Keisha be spending the summer before she heads off to college hobnobbing with her future elite classmates? Or perhaps Justin’s gap year takes him to the East Coast? Either way, the scenic New England island promises a stunning visual shift from the sun-soaked streets of LA.
What to expect from Forever Season 2
Warning: The following section contains spoilers. Proceed with caution!
The first season concluded with an emotionally mature but heartbreaking finale. Under the blue glow of the Hachioji Craft Ramen sign, soundtracked by Frank Ocean’s “Moon River,” Keisha and Justin made the incredibly tough decision to go their separate ways. After dealing with intense family pressure, the nuances of navigating predominantly white spaces, and the heavy expectations placed upon them, they chose to prioritize their individual growth over their romance.
As Justin put it in the crushing final moments: “Maybe we’ll be ready for each other in 10 years.”
Season 2 will pick up the pieces of that breakup, exploring who Keisha and Justin are without each other.
Cr. Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix © 2024
Showrunner Mara Brock Akil has teased that the upcoming season will dive deep into this new chapter of independence. Keisha, an uncompromising A-plus student and track star, is heading off on a full ride to prestigious Howard University. “Howard is Keisha’s first boyfriend, let’s just be honest,” Brock Akil notes. “I want to see who she is in this environment.”
Meanwhile, Justin—who spent season 1 torn between his passion for making beats and his parents’ dreams of him playing basketball at Northwestern—will be taking a gap year. “What is he going to do in this gap year, now that he’s got a direction?” asks Brock Akil. “He needs to figure out who he is outside of Keisha.”
But don’t lose hope for a reunion. The central question looming over Season 2 is whether or not these two soulmates can find their way back to each other. “How do you reengage, how do you go back through the door that you know is open?” Brock Akil teases. The creator has called Season 2 a “love letter back to the people who said, ‘Yes, this is for me,’” promising that the series is ready to “go even deeper.”
Who is returning for Season 2?
While a full cast list hasn’t been officially confirmed by Netflix, we absolutely know our two leads are returning to center stage:
- Lovie Simone as Keisha Clark
- Michael Cooper Jr. as Justin Edwards
When could Forever Season 2 release on Netflix?
If production officially kicks off in early May as scheduled, filming will likely run through the summer. Factoring in post-production, we are currently predicting that Forever Season 2 will land on Netflix in early-to-mid 2027.
We’ll be keeping this preview updated with all the latest casting news, set photos, and release dates as we get them.
Are you excited for the return of Forever? What do you think brings the cast to Martha’s Vineyard? Let us know in the comments below!
