Creator of The Recruit Season 3 Shares Candid Insights: “There’s A Lot Of Goodwill Within Netflix…”

The Recruit is stirring excitement about a potential season 3, thanks to insights from series creator Alexi Hawley. This spy thriller continues from the nail-biting conclusion of season 1, with the latest six-episode season featuring CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks, portrayed by Noah Centineo, heading to South Korea. There, he seeks the assistance of a promising new ally, Jang Kyu, brought to life by Teo Yoo, known for his role in Past Lives. The second season has been well-received, highlighting its swift pacing and engaging action sequences.

In a recent conversation with Deadline, Hawley shared his optimistic outlook regarding the show’s future. Notably, he emphasized that they consider Centineo a “homegrown star”, likely referencing his breakout role in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Additionally, Hawley noted that Netflix’s executives harbor a significant amount of goodwill towards the series. Below, he elaborates on his vision for the potential third season, including the desire to film globally:

Hawley: We’re waiting for Netflix to officially do their thing with it. There’s a lot of goodwill inside Netflix towards the show and towards Noah; I think they very much feel like Noah is a bit of a homegrown star, which he is. So, I’m feeling super positive about it, as positive as you can feel in this town at this time. I have been thinking about it, in broad strokes. It would be definitely nice [to film abroad].We were meant to do a lot more traveling in Season 1, but the pandemic, really, so Doug Liman went to shoot in Vienna, everything else was shot in Montreal and faked it. We were in Korea for about a month shooting that stuff, so it’d be great to do that again. I’m not sure exactly where I want to go yet. I feel like we’ve done Russia, we’ve done Korea. So maybe Latin America, Africa would be exciting. The American audiences don’t get exposed to Africa a lot in our storytelling for lots of reasons, but I think that would be really interesting.

So you’re not in the writers room working on Season 3 yet?

Hawley: No, not yet.

Insights from Hawley’s Comments on Season 3

Performance: A Crucial Factor

Owen looking serious in The Recruit Season 2

Upon its debut in December 2022, the first season of The Recruit garnered attention, although it was noted as one of the lesser-watched Netflix Originals to receive a renewal. This was highlighted by a spreadsheet released by Netflix, which tracked viewer engagement over the first six months following its release. However, season 2 has the potential to outperform its predecessor. With shorter episodes and a more focused narrative, coupled with a strategic release outside the holiday season, it stands to generate a stronger viewership.

The second season’s release coincides with the return of The Night Agent, which performed well in its sophomore outing. This provides a promising backdrop for The Recruit to build on its momentum. The goodwill mentioned by Hawley, along with Centineo’s significant rise in popularity thanks to Netflix’s platform, bolsters the case for a better audience reception this time around. Monitoring viewership statistics in the coming months will be essential, as season 2 concludes with the potential for more captivating stories.

Our Perspective on The Recruit’s Future

A Strong Show Worth Continuing

Noah Centineo as Owen and Teo Yoo as Jang on a boat looking at the horizon in The Recruit Season 2 Episode 6

While The Recruit contrasts with The Night Agent in tone, it still boasts its own unique strengths. The series showcases a lighter narrative style, driven by a dynamic performance from its lead. Given the enhanced second season, which effectively utilizes its primary character and introduces compelling performances, including Yoo’s noteworthy contribution, the series truly deserves the opportunity for a third season.

Source: Deadline

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