Paramount+’s supernatural drama series School Spirits has the potential to become a long-running hit, but will the show get renewed for season 3 soon? Created by Megan and Nate Trinrud, the show concerns Maddie (Peyton List) a teen in Split River, Wisconsin, who finds herself stuck in the afterlife after she seemingly dies under strange circumstances. With the help of the ghosts who also inhabit her school, Maddie must get to the bottom of her own mystery while unraveling an entire world of supernatural suprises. Blending elements of high school dramas with the supernatural, School Spirits is a fascinating synthesis.
Season 1 was met with largely positive reviews, and it was renewed in mid 2023. Unfortunately, the 2023 Hollywood strikes kept the show on the sidelines for the remainder of that year, and it wouldn’t return until early 2025. Despite this massive setback, season 2 of School Spirits has continued the positive momentum of its predecessor, and has already added a host of new wrinkles to Maddie’s afterlife experience. However, it remains to be seen if Paramount+ will bring the show back for season 3, and the decision will largely hinge on the success of the sophomore outing.
School Spirits Season 3 Latest News
Season 2 Sees Massive Audience Improvement
it’s clear that School Spirits actually grew its audience over the long downtime between seasons
Though the news doesn’t directly pertain to a potential third season, the latest news confirms that School Spirits season 2 has seen a massive audience expansion. The sophomore season’s debut episodes were seen by 1.7M viewers in the first seven days, which marks a 104% improvement over season 1. With season 1 being put on a second streaming service, Netflix, it’s clear that School Spirits actually grew its audience over the long downtime between seasons. It’s unclear if this will lead to a season 3 renewal, but it certainly helps.
School Spirits Season 3 Is Not Confirmed
Paramount+ Hasn’t Ordered New Episodes Yet
Season 2 of School Spirits debuted with a bigger audience than its predecessor, a good sign for its future.
School Spirits scored a season 2 renewal after a critically acclaimed debut, and the order came down somewhat quickly when all things are considered. Coming a few weeks after season 1’s conclusion, the season 2 renewal proved that the show did something right during its first season to guarantee another. The delays which kept the show off the air for all of 2024 were disheartening, but recent data shows that the audience for the series actually grew during the break. Season 2 of School Spirits debuted with a bigger audience than its predecessor, a good sign for its future.
School Spirits season 2 debuted on January 30, 2025.
With such a massive jump in viewership (no doubt spurred on by the first season’s arrival on Netflix), Paramount+ will likely keep a close eye on School Spirits season 2 as it progresses. One of the downsides of a weekly release schedule is that there’s no guarantee that viewers will stick around over time. Binge-watching requires less commitment, but is sometimes not as accurate when judging a show’s true popularity. If School Spirits season 2 keeps its audience (or even grows it), season 3 is a certainty.
School Spirits Season 3 Cast Details
Will Maddie & The Ghosts Return Again?
The cast of School Spirits grew going into season 2, and that trend will likely continue in season 3 as well. However, it’s impossible to guess who any newcomers will be until more details come to the surface. Besides this, it’s highly likely that the main cast will return to reprise their roles, even though season 2 still promises a few more twists. Peyton List’s Maddie Nears is the crux of the series, and she’ll certainly be back in season 3. Joining her will be Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy, Maddie’s best friend who is the only living person who can interact with her.
Milo Manheim will likely be back as the ghost Wally Clark, while Spencer MacPherson should reprise his role Xavier Baxter, Maddie’s living ex-boyfriend. Murdered teen Rhonda Rosen should be back in season 3 too, and her cynical brand of humor is provided by Sarah Yarkin in the ghost role. Nick Pugliese plays the shy and friendly ghost, Charley, while Josh Zuckerman appears as the ghost of the mysterious Mr. Martin. Rounding out the living cast, Nicole Herrera is played by Kiara Pichardo, someone who is close with Simon and was close with Maddie when she was alive.
The cast of School Spirits season 3 will likely include:
| Actor | School Spirits Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Peyton List | Maddie Nears |
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| Kristian Ventura | Simon Elroy |
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| Milo Manheim | Wally Clark |
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| Spencer MacPherson | Xavier Baxter |
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| Sarah Yarkin | Rhonda Rosen |
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| Nick Pugliese | Charley |
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| Josh Zuckerman | Mr. Martin |
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| Kiara Pichardo | Nicole Herrera |
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School Spirits Season 3 Story Details
More Questions & A Few Answers
Season 1 ended with the shocking twist that Maddie isn’t actually dead, and that a spirit named Janet had hijacked her body. While this storyline could conclude throughout season 2, it sets a precedent for what can be expected in season 3. The finale of season 2 has already been promised to leave viewers with more questions than answers (according to Peyton List in an interview with Collider), and this means a massive twist will likely shake things up again.
What that twist is will be impossible to predict until the season 2 finale, but it likely means that Maddie won’t be reunited with her corporeal body anytime soon. With the rules of the ghosts and afterlife still being fleshed out, it’s unclear exactly what would happen if Maddie went back to normal. It would likely mean the end of her friendships with the ghosts, but only time will tell. School Spirits season 3 has a lot to work with already, but season 2 will undoubtedly add more fuel to the proverbial story fire.
