Paramount+ has finally confirmed the release date for Yellow Jackets Season 3, but surprisingly still hasn't given an update on Season 2's mysterious bonus episode. Arriving almost two years later Yellow Jackets Season 2 ends in May 2023, the titular team is officially returning to the small screen for Season 3 on February 14, 2025. Yellow Jackets season 3 will return with two episodes premiering on February 14followed by new weekly episodes streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime.
Yellow Jackets Season 3's return so early in 2025 is an emotional relief, as Season 2 left behind several mysteries following adult Natalie's death in the present and the cabin fire in the past. Based on Yellow Jackets' cast and crew teases, season 3 brings the teens in for more “wild” states in the desert, as the adults deal with the consequences of their latest tragic loss. However, before the series dives into Season 3's new twists, it's important to remember that Yellow Jackets Season 2 isn't technically over yet, as the creators confirmed that a bonus episode would premiere before Season 3.
Yellowjackets Season 2 bonus episode doesn't have a release date yet (less than 3 months before Season 3)
Yellowjackets Season 2 bonus episode confirmed for June 2023
As exciting as it is to receive an update on Yellow Jackets Season 3, this just makes the wait for the Season 2 bonus episode even more unbearable. It was previously reported that Yellow Jackets Season 2 would have a total of 10 episodes and Jason Ritter (husband of Shauna actress Melanie Lynskey) would make a cameo, but the story of Season 2 effectively came to an end without any cameos in episode 9, “Storytelling.” Therefore, it was widely speculated that a bonus episode was in the works, which co-creator Ashley Lyle confirmed in June 2023.
Considering Yellow Jackets' teen actors confirmed that they were not present to film the bonus episode, the theory that it is a “bottle” episode telling the “Cabin Guy” backstory is not too far-fetched.
Lyle revealed that Yellow Jackets'bonus episode would be released'between seasons,” yet 18 months later, season three is quickly approaching without any updates on the bonus episode. There were rumors that Yellow Jackets The Season 2 bonus episode was filmed around the same time as the rest of Season 2, as there was Footage reportedly leaked of Jason Ritter in costume in the desert, implying he would appear in the extra ride. So it doesn't appear that the delay in the bonus episode's release is due to filming or scheduling issues.
The cast and crew of Yellow Jackets have been tight-lipped about what the bonus episode will entail, but the rumors surrounding Jason Ritter's cameo have led to a lot of speculation about what mysteries he might solve. Deleted footage showed Jason Ritter alongside other actors in the desert, with his flannel attire leading to theories that he is playing Yellow Jackets'dead “Cabin Guy” in a flashback. Considering Yellow Jackets'teen actors confirmed they were not present to film the bonus episodeThe theory that it's a "bottle" episode telling the backstory of the "Cabin Guy" isn't too far-fetched.
Yellowjackets Season 2 Bonus Episode Rumors Could Be Crucial to Season 3 Story
The bonus episode about the guy in the cabin would help define the mysteries of the third season
If it really is separate from the main plot of the Yellow Jackets teenagers in the past and survivors in the present, so Showtime could choose to delay the bonus episode until after season three if they so choose. However, this doesn't seem like a beneficial move for the studio, especially if the rumors about the focus on Cabin Guy are true. Considering how Yellow Jackets season two has ended, it feels like the perfect time to tell Cabin Guy's story before heading into season three.
In the final moments of Yellow Jackets Season 2, the teens woke up in the desert to discover that their hut, where they had lived for several months, was set on fire. The girls and Travis ran outside in the snow and watched as their only form of shelter was burned to the ground, with Coach Ben insinuating he was the arsonist. Before Yellow Jackets'The cabin's storyline officially ends when the teens find a new shelter in Season 3, the Season 2 bonus episode is the perfect time to bring the place to a close by revealing what happened to its previous inhabitants.
Yellow Jackets confirmed that Hilary Swank and Joel McHale will join the Season 3 cast in undisclosed roles.
Furthermore, as the Shack did not live there alone, the fate of his fellow inhabitants may give some indication of what nature has in store for the teenagers after the Shack's destruction. Yellow Jackets"The mysterious symbol was found by Cabin Guy's corpse in the attic, so his tragic fate and connection to the symbol could have an influence on the teens' upcoming supernatural experiences in Season 3." There are also theories that Cabin Guy had a daughter who is still alive in Yellow Jackets'past timelineso the bonus episode could separately set up its potential introduction.
When Yellowjackets Season 2 Episode 10 Could Be Released
The bonus episode will need to raise expectations for the arrival of the third season
Yellow Jackets Season 3 premieres on February 14, 2025, but there is expected to be a gap of over a week between the Season 2 bonus episode and the next season's releases. Showtime will likely choose a release time that allows more audience members to watch the bonus episode, so it could come around the holidays.
No official announcement has been made, but Yellow JacketsSeason 2 bonus episode could be released as early as Thanksgiving week, making it ripe for “party” jokes. If the network wants to release it a little closer to the third season, the bonus episode could finally air around Christmas time, which would be about six weeks before the new season arrives. The release of the season 2 bonus episode will likely be a strategic move to kickstart the momentum for the anticipation of Yellow Jackets season 3 premiere, so anytime between late November and mid-January seems like a suitable window.