‘You’ Season 5: Everything We Know About the Final Season

There’s finally an update on You Season 5! So, get ready for it… We’re approaching the end of Joe Goldberg’s chilling saga. The psychological crime thriller is returning to Netflix for its fifth and final season. And thanks to Penn Badgley at Tudum: A Global Fan Event in Brazil, we know that we’ll see a ghost from Joe’s past resurface.

Production on the final season of the series is set to bring in late March 2024 in New York and will continue through August 2024. So, what else do we know about You Season 5? We’ve got all the details for you below (including some spoilers from previous seasons).

You Renewed for Fifth and Final Season

Netflix has renewed You for a fifth season, which will also be its last. Netflix US and Canada Vice President of Scripted Series Peter Friedlander also praised the show in its renewal.

“We’re proud to see how You has captivated audiences around the world, becoming an instant sensation on Netflix with a resounding cultural impact that has grown season over season,” said Friedlander. “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.”

You is based on the novels by Caroline Kepnes. The series follows Joe, a hopeless romantic who also has a habit of stalking and killing the women he claims to love.

In a statement in March, You executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter said that they always saw the show as a five-season series. Sera Gamble, who co-created You with Berlanti, also announced that she would be stepping down as showrunner and will remain as an executive producer to focus on other projects. Writers Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo, who joined the show in Seasons 1 and 2 respectively, will be replacing Gamble.

“Making the show alongside our writers, producers, directors, cast, and crew has been an honor and ridiculously fun. And I feel lucky to have worked with an artist as gifted and thoughtful as Penn Badgley. I’m proud of what we’ve all accomplished and feel privileged to pass the torch. I’m excited to watch and support the You team as they bring Joe Goldberg’s journey to its delightfully twisted conclusion,” said Gamble.

What Happened So Far

Joe’s search for The One all started in New York, then Los Angeles by Season 2, San Francisco in Season 3, and London in Season 4. It was in Season 4 that Joe was forced to come to terms with the fact that he’s not a good person.

Season 4 saw Joe mingling with the wealthy in London, while also committing more murders along the way. Joe was living under the name Professor Jonathan Moore. But as he learned while living in London that he couldn’t entirely escape his past.

The season ended with Joe returning to New York along with his wealthy partner Kate and the rude realization that he long avoided.

The first half of Season 4 seemed to depict Joe in a redemptive light, bringing audiences down the whodunit route. This all culminated in the second half, with the twist that changed Joe forever. Joe can now use the wealth and influence Kate has to further his own privilege and avoid any consequences. This season also saw what made Kate different from Joe’s ex-wife, Love Quinn.

With Joe’s admission that anyone he loves ultimately ends up dead, things don’t sound so good for Kate.

Gamble previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the plan was to put in some kind of consequence for Joe.

“The conversation we have among the writers, between Greg and I, and a lot with Penn is about the fact that it would be nice to end his arc with some form of justice. Guys like this don’t usually see a lot of justice from the world. That’s challenging to plot. How does Joe Goldberg go down in a world where he’s been branding people with bricks in broad daylight for years?” said Gamble.

“And he’s cute! And he gets away with it. The deeper question that we frequently pitch in the writers’ room is, ‘What’s real justice? What would hurt him the most?’”

You Season 5 Cast

Penn Badgley will obviously be returning for You Season 5 in his final outing as Joe Goldberg. The same goes for Claudia Ritchie as Kate.

Gamble said in February 2023 that they actually tried to get Jenna Ortega, who played Ellie in Season 2, to come back. However, Ortega could not reprise her role out of scheduling conflicts for Wednesday.

Amy Leigh-Hickman, who plays Nadia, told Digital Spy that she’s still hoping for her character to make a repeat appearance. Nadia was falsely convicted of Joe’s crimes and is serving time behind bars.

“I would love to come back and play her again,” said the actress. “I think that if she can pull off everything she did in Season 4, there’s not much she can’t do. So I wouldn’t put anything past her, I wouldn’t past Joe as well. I think that’s something they have in common, weirdly.”

Tati Gabrielle also expressed wanting to come back for You Season 5. Her character Marienne managed to escape from Joe and reunited with her daughter Juliette in Paris.

I would love to come back again,” Gabrielle also told Digital Spy. “I feel like she hasn’t gotten her piece yet, and I do think she deserves that. She’s had a hard life, man. She just needs a break. I would love to see more for Marienne. If she’s not part of taking down Joe, I just want her to be able to witness it.”

What to Expect

For You Season 5, Joe’s return to New York may pose more issues for him. Badgley teased fans with what’s to come for Joe and Kate during the Tudum event this year. “There are many loose ends in Joe’s past,” the actor hinted regarding Season 5.

The clip showed the people Joe has wronged in the course of the past four seasons. This includes Dr. Nicky who was falsely accused, Ellie who was orphaned, the Conrads, Joe’s protege Paco, and even Lady Phoebe. All of them may make a return appearance for Season 5.

However, Badgley couldn’t reveal which one of the surviving victims will be coming back for Season 5.

“I think it sets us up to actually have a really great finale season,” Badgley told Tudum ahead of the Season 4 premiere. “Can his inner monologue involve some now? What does it mean for him to accept himself?”

Badgley previously revealed to PEOPLE what he hopes would happen in You Season 5.

“I feel like it’s building towards a greater resolution,” said the Gossip Girl alum. “That’s what I want for Joe… Because now, the circumstances are actually different. He has a level of power and wealth that he’s never had.”

You Season 5 Release Date Speculation

There’s no official release date for You Season 5 just yet. But we do have a confirmation that filming on the new season will begin in late March and continue through August 2024.

The season was in active development earlier in 2023. However, due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA union strikes, production on the fifth season was delayed. Due to that delay and the fact that filming won’t wrap until late summer, it’s unlikely we’ll see the series return before 2025. Our best guest would be a spring 2025 release for the final season.

For now, fans can rewatch Joe’s journey with the first four seasons on Netflix.