Surface Season 2 - What We Know So Far

A shocking event sets the stage for "Surface" as the Apple TV+ series presents a twisted mystery for viewers to unravel. Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) wakes to find herself dealing with a traumatic head injury. Those around her are only certain that she fell off a boat, and the reasons behind her dramatic moment are puzzling, to say the least. Her husband James (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) seems to be by her side through a painful recovery process but there's another man who could be key to what happened. She'll go on a journey to find the truth, proving along the way that nothing is as simple as it appears to be.

The psychological thriller represents another phase in the streaming service's push to compete with already established competitors. Creator Veronica West came to the project with impressive credits on various projects; her biggest contributions include writing for "Dexter: New Blood" and acting as showrunner on the underrated Hulu series "High Fidelity" (via Backstage).

Behind the scenes, "Surface' boasts Reese Witherspoon as an executive producer. Witherspoon found the 1st season had similarities to "Big Little Lies"; it's all about the wealthy area and the secrets hidden just out of sight. "It's unsettling, and as an audience member, you don't know who to trust," the actress told USA Today. "At the end of every episode, there's a moment where you're like, 'Oh my god, that is completely not what I expected.'"

Here's what we know about Season 2 of "Surface."

There are currently no details about a Season 2 release date for "Surface"; the show was renewed in December of 2022, months after the 1st season debuted in July of the same year. The announcement did not reveal if production is already underway, but its development warrants entering a pre-production stage, as hinted by a short synopsis and new location. Current reports suggest the series will move from Vancouver to the U.K. in conjunction with the upcoming storylines (via Hollywood North Buzz).

Details about the length of this upcoming season have yet to be disclosed by Apple or the production team. If the 1st season is any indication, look for an eight-episode run. Apple TV+ is likely to follow its strategy for most series — releasing one episode per week. In the case of "Surface," its premiere saw three full-length episodes available during the first week. Subsequent episodes of the series ran until September 2022.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw will be returning to her lead role as Sophie; the character's search for answers on "Surface" gives Mbatha-Raw yet another chance to show why she's an in-demand actress. 

In a statement, Mbatha-Raw spoke about her devotion to the character after the renewal was announced. She talked about her enthusiasm for returning to further unravel the mysteries surrounding Sophie. "I can't wait for fans and new audiences to join us as she enters the dangerous new world of her past in Season 2. As an actor and executive producer, it's incredibly meaningful to be bringing this story home to London," she expressed (via Variety).

Little is known about who will join Gugu Mbatha-Raw in this upcoming season. As the finale left her marriage on a cliffhanger, many assume her husband James will be back to create more conundrums for Sophie. Oliver Jackson-Cohen stars as the potentially dangerous spouse whose affection towards his wife is more than unhealthy. The actor appears to be more than content with giving James a bigger role. "Oh God, how's this going to look?" I'd rather play someone like James than play the friendly neighbor, do you know what I mean?," the actor said during a GQ interview. He also touched on the many layers that come with this type of role and the complexities that define other characters like James.

One character that looks to be out of the series barring a major revelation is Baden (Stephan James). The season finale saw him beaten, telling Sophie it was due to his position; his eventual death caused her to ponder what her husband's involvement might be in the whole incident.

The series' announcement provided a brief glimpse into where Sophie's life will go in Season 2. According to Apple, the new season will pick up with the lead character venturing to London. She's in search of answers to something unfinished that was hidden away in her buried memories. Taking off to London may also help Sophie find out the background of who shaped her life and the events which may not be as they seem. All of it connects to what audiences have already experienced in San Francisco.

Creator Veronica West is set to return for the new season. It's not something she takes lightly, especially with this new chapter unfolding in Sophie's life. I can't wait for people to see how the show evolves as we explore an emboldened, fearless Sophie in season two," she said (via Deadline). She went on to mention how much her lead actress and the teams at Apple and Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine have been a pleasure to work with.