We've been waiting for Jonah Hill [1] and Emma Stone [2] to be reunited on screen since Superbad, and it's finally happening! Hill and Stone are starring together in the forthcoming Netflix series Maniac [3], a dark comedy based on the Norwegian TV show of the same name. The first season is set to consist of 10 episodes, following two strangers who believe themselves to be living out a fantasy life while they're actually locked up at an institution. Other big names have joined the cast as series regulars and in recurring roles, including Sonoya Mizuno, Julia Garner, Jemima Kirke, Sally Field [4], and Justin Theroux (who is also Stone's rumoured beau [5]). You could say that we're pretty pumped about it.
The first season won't premiere until later this year, but as we have pretty high expectations for this one, we're already wondering if a second season might also be in the works. Unfortunately, we aren't getting our hopes up. Maniac is Stone's first regular TV role since 2007's Drive (which only lasted seven episodes) and Hill's first regular TV role ever. Though the straight-to-series Netflix model is different than broadcast network television, filming a 10-episode series is still no doubt more demanding than a two-hour movie. Before the series was even sold to Netflix, Paramount Pictures became directly involved with the series [6] to ensure that the stars' busy schedules were synchronized enough to fill their roles.
Even if the two Oscar nominees are able to clear their schedules for a second season, it seems as though Maniac director Cary Fukunaga favours limited-run series and stand-alone movies over multiple seasons and sequels. The writer and producer directed all eight episodes of HBO's True Detective [7] for its first season but chose not to return as director for the second season (though he did still serve as an executive producer). Likewise, though Fukunaga initially signed on to direct the first adaptation of Stephen King's It and write the film's sequel [8], he left the project before production began.
In the next few years, Stone is slated to play Cruella de Vil in the live-action 101 Dalmatians film Cruella [9], as well as lend her voice for the animated film The Croods 2. Hill is expected to appear as Richard Jewell in The Ballad of Richard Jewell, as well as lend his voice to The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Though clearly neither actor has any qualms about sequels, we're not sure how likely it is that both stars will have time in their schedules to film another 10 Maniac episodes.
We'll be sure to let you know if that changes (as well as when the first season will even appear on Netflix!), but sadly, we aren't planning on seeing this one past its limited run.