Ju-On Origins Season 2 Updates: Will It Happen?

The Netflix original series Ju-On: Origins expanded the cinematic universe of The Grudge franchise in a major way, but will it be renewed for season 2?

In March of 2020, television and movie productions were placed on an immediate halt due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Approximately four months following the indefinite hiatus, Ju-On: Origins premiered on the popular streaming service for its July lineup. Despite the fact that theaters, shops, and amusement parks are beginning to slowly open, the number of cases has increased, resulting in people returning to their homes to self-quarantine. In that respect, Ju-On: Origins and its horrific stories came at the perfect time. Audiences familiar with the franchise recall that the 2002 Japanese film by Takashi Shimizu, Ju-On: The Grudge, and his 2004 American remake, The Grudge, both occur in a home. Ju-On: Origins stays true to the original film and remains within a home setting.

With a preset expectation of at-home horror, viewers of Ju-On: Origins discovered that the series presented new aspects of the curse and created an environment fueled by tension that lapses over various timelines. The original series is structured as an origin story for the franchise, as it presents various ways that the curse can manifest. It is born when someone dies while in the midst of experiencing extreme emotional distress. The Grudge curse is reborn over and over again as it passes from one death to another. In the six-episode series, Ju-On: Origins expands of the paranormal nature of the malevolent curse but will it do the same in season 2. Here is everything we know so far.

Ju-On: Origins Season 2 Renewal

As of July 2020, Ju-On: Origins has yet to receive the green light for season 2. This is due to a multitude of reasons. Primarily, the film industry is not entirely sure when it will be able to resume production on any unfinished projects let alone begin new ones. If there are anymore set backs with the global recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic, this could delay renewal status and filming for a year or more. Ju-On: Origins premiered on July 3, 2020, given that the series is still so fresh on the steaming platform, it is likely Netflix will review their data analytics before making any concrete decisions. If it does get renewed, it is likely that season 2 will come in the summer of 2021 or 2022.

Ju-On: Origins Season 2 Cast

When season 1 comes to a close, it is clear that paranormal writer and researcher Yasuo Odajima, portrayed by YoshiYohsi Arakawa, will make a reappearance in season 2. Besides Arakawa reprising his role, no other cast members have been announced as returning or asked to join the project. As Ju-On: Origins expands upon various aspects of The Grudge curse, it is likely that casting will be entirely dependent on the structure of new episodes.

Ju-On: Origins Season 2 Story Details

Ju-On: Origins season 1 is only six episodes long, and ends with an array of questions for the audience to ponder until the arrival of season 2. Considering the aspects of the series are similar to anthologies, it is likely that they will continue with this method while expanding on the history of the curse. It is entirely plausible that they may also shift focus and unpack Yasuo Odajima’s character as well as where he fits into The Grudge curse and timeline. Season 1 left the future of the series fairly open-ended; Ju-On: Origins has only just begun the process of uncovering a dark and deadly curse. Season 2 has the potential to go even further. The ongoing process for Yasuo Odajima to uncover the history of a massive curse that has plagued a Japanese home for decades will likely continue into season 2, but could be much more complex than season 1 let on.

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