You: Production has officially begun for the fifth and FINAL season
Joe Goldberg has a lot of loose ends to tie!
Last updated 26th Mar 2024
Netflix's psychological thriller series You will be returning for a fifth and final season, with fans preparing to welcome the infamous Joe Goldberg back onto their screens. But that's not all - following the streaming platform revealing that we will see Joe RETURN to New York City - where it all began - actor Penn Badgley is officially back in action, with Netflix confirming production is officially underway.
Taking to Instagram to reveal the exciting news to fans, who can't wait to see the series' dramatic close, show bosses wrote: 'back to where it all began. the 5th and final season of YOU is now in production'. (sic)
Of course, elated with the news, fans headed straight to the comments to share their excitement. One wrote: 'LETS GOOOO', while another added: 'YIPPEE'. (sic)
Although we don't yet have any information on the upcoming plot for the fifth and final season, we have had dribs and drabs of information in the meantime, including two brand new cast members. Last year, lead actor Penn - who understandable has a pretty good insight into what we can expect - gave us a huge teaser to amp up the excitement.
Not only did he let slip that will we see Joe return to New York - but also that we will be reacquainted with his old stomping ground, Mooney's, as well as a character from earlier seasons.
Without giving too much away, Penn said: "You're considering what, or should I say, who, Joe will come up against as he finally returns to New York. Though I can't say who just yet, we all know there are many loose ends from Joe's past."
As Penn teased the epic return of a former 'loose end' from previous seasons, the clip showed snippets of characters such as Marienne, Dr. Nicky, Karen, Paco, Joe's son Henry, Ellie, Cary, Sherry, Lady Phoebe and Nadia.
Rounding the clip off with another tease, Penn confirmed that we will be heading back to the bookshop Joe used to work in, which saw the sad fate of his former love Beck - simply adding: "I'll see you in Mooney's".
Who will return in season five?
Despite it looking like we'll see the return of a pretty major character from Joe's past, it's safe to say that your guess is as good as ours when it comes to who it may be. As Penn put it himself, Joe Goldberg has quite a number of loose ends.
As fans know, our journey with Joe started out in New York, where we were introduced to his love interest Beck. Sadly, Beck's storyline met a pretty grim end, driving Joe to flee to Los Angeles under a new name, leaving Dr. Nicky framed for his crimes. With the news that Joe will return to NYC, and Penn hinting at the return of an old character - fan theories are beginning to run wild with who we may see return to the show - even including his mother.
One fan suggested: 'Peaches family is waiting for him. Love’s family will see he’s alive. Dr. Nicky will get his revenge. Marrianne will get her revenge. HE WILL FINALLY RUN INTO HIS MOTHER. ……', while another fan added: 'Cyclical - started in NYC and it’s gonna end that way?'. (sic)
Another fan even suggested: 'He will probably face his son next season', with another floating the idea that season one character Paco may return, writing: 'Paco is coming back too?'.
Are there any new cast members?
In true You fashion, there are indeed some new cast members joining the show for the upcoming season. Announced in March 2024, it was revealed that Pitch Perfect star Anna Camp will be joining the show - playing the role of twin sisters Reagan and Maddie Lockwood.
Also joining is Griffin Matthews, who will be playing another member of the Lockwood family, Teddy, as well as Madeline Brewer, who will play the role of Bronte. Get acquainted with the cast of Netflix's You right here.
It was just weeks after announcing season five that Netflix confirmed creepy Joe will be returning to New York City. Announcing the news, show bosses wrote: 'welcome (back) to New York, Joe. see you in S5.' (sic)
Weeks after Part Two of season four dropped on Netflix, the news that we will be getting one more season was confirmed. Sharing the news on Instagram, show bosses wrote: 'Goodbye... YOU. Joe Goldberg will return for the fifth and final season of YOU.'
Although fans were elated at the news, many also expressed their sadness at the popular show coming to an end. One wrote: 'ONCE IT ENDS IM GOING THROUGH THE STAGES OF GRIEF', with another adding: 'final season😪🥲how do you want me to survive, TELL MEðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜'. (sic)
When will the next season be released?
Although we don't have a release date yet, Netflix have confirmed that the fifth series is now in production, with fans speculating it could be with us by late 2024/early 2025.
Check out these facts you didn't know about Netflix's You:
Penn Badgley very nearly turned down playing Joe
He was "conflicted" that the show would be problematic as the character was such an "awful person".
He told Entertainment Weekly: "I didn't want to do it — it was too much. I was conflicted with the nature of the role. If this is a love story, what is it saying?
"And then what was key in me wanting to jump on board were my conversations with Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, the creators, and understanding Joe's humanity.
"I knew that I would be conflicted about the role from day one till the last day, and that is why they thought I would be good for it, is that I'm not psyched to play somebody of this nature."
Netflix wasn’t originally meant to be the place for You
Yep, creators Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble originally premiered the show on Lifetime in September 2018, however was dropped after the first season. Bet they're kicking themselves now - as the show was later picked up by Netflix, continuing as a Netflix Original title... And the rest is history!
A clue that the show wasn't always a Netflix original is the first episode's title - 'Pilot'.
You is based on books
The show is based on books by Caroline Kepnes - You, Hidden Bodies and the most recent You Love Me. Similar to the series, there's even a fourth book on the way!
Stephen King even praised the books, saying: "Totally original. Never read anything quite like it…Hypnotic and scary."
Penn wasn't the only one who nearly turned down a part in the show!
Tati Gabrielle, who plays libarian Marienne Bellamy in series three initially turned the role down as her agent told her it was a 'mystery show'.
She told Marie Claire: "In September or October of last year I was in Spain shooting another project. I had fully intended, once I finished that project, to take a month off. But my agent said, 'They want you for this Greg Berlanti project.' I asked, 'What is it?' They couldn't tell me, so I said no."
She added: "Then I knew what it was. I said yes because I was a super big fan of the show."
They use a 'blood machine' for the gory scenes
All the gory blood is made of sugar that gets squirted out of a 'blood machine' in the particularly graphic scenes. A lot of effort goes into the gory scenes in the show, with a whole lot of help from some prosthetics!
Penn didn’t have many lines to learn in the show, especially compared to the rest of the cast
That's because most of his dialogue was the voiceover! Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, Penn admitted that "80% of my lines, if not more are actually voiceovers". The actor then revealed that most days he would go to the set and hardly have any lines, and that he was just "looking".
It's fair to say that Penn was well practiced, as his first ever acting roles were for a radio station and Nintendo 64 video games when he was 10 years old.
Safety first! Show stars took safety courses
Elizabeth Lail, who played Beck in the first series, and Penn had to to attend an eight-hour safety course before they were allowed to film on the NYC subway tracks.
Too likeable?
When filming every series, Penn was worried that he was making the character of Joe too likeable, especially as fans seemed to warm to him way too much considering he's a serial killer.
However, show creator Sara Gamble admitted that she thinks this is because audiences are wired to root for the love story.
She said: "If you just present a 'cute meet' in a bookstore, you're gonna want them to be together. If you see them together in the first scene, you're gonna want them to be together, even if you see what Joe is doing."
Two of the show's stars are reportedly dating in real life
Despite all the gore and creepy obsessions, love actually has come from You, as Victoria Pedretti is rumoured to be dating her co-star Dylan Arnold, who appears in season three as the flirty next door neighbour and college student Theo Engler.
Mooney's book store is a real shop
The facade of Mooney's bookstore, where Joe works in season one, is in fact a real life book shop! The signage above the door was kept fairly similar for the show, with the only real difference being the name.
The real shop is called Logos Bookstore, and sells Christian and religious books. Will we see Joe visit his old stomping ground in season five as he returns to NYC?
Season four of You was released in two parts, for the first time in the show's history. Part One of series four hit Netflix on 9th February 2023, with Part Two following one month after on 9th March.
Following Joe's trend of adopting a new alias as he moves to a new home (Will Bettelheim ring any bells?), season four saw him become Professor Jonathan Moore.
Despite trying to lead a simple life, Joe (or should we say, Jonathan) finds himself in a spot of bother, when his new friend winds up dead in his London apartment. Of course, Joe also has a new love-interest throughout the season, in the form of Kate Galvin.
You can watch You series one-four on Netflix now.
Now read:
You: Everything you need to know about the Netflix show
All the places you've seen Penn Badgley and not noticed 👀
Pitch Perfect star cast in fifth and final season of You