George and Bertha Russell look happy in the first look at The Gilded Age season 2. Created and written by Downtown Abbey's Julian Fellowes, HBO's hit historical drama is set in New York City during the titular era of rapid economic growth during the 1880s. The series begins with a young penniless woman named Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) entering the city's rigid social scene and inadvertently becoming enmeshed in various conflicts involving the new money Russell family, old money van Rhijn-Brook family, and racial tensions between the classes.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife star Carrie Coon leads The Gilded Age cast as Bertha Russell alongside Morgan Spector as her husband, George. In addition to Jacobson, the show's ensemble cast also includes Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Simon Jones, Jack Gilpin, Cynthia Nixon, and Christine Baranski. Originally developed for NBC, the show eventually moved to HBO where it premiered in January 2022 to impressive ratings; The Gilded Age was renewed for season 2 the following month.
Now, the first look at The Gilded Age season 2 is here. In a tweet from HBO announcing the show has officially begun production on season 2, a set photo also reveals a behind-the-scenes look at Spector and Coon filming a scene in the Russell mansion. Back in character as Bertha and George, they look relatively happy - and still very much in love - as they embrace one another. Check out the season 2 announcement and image in the space below:
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It's unclear how much time has passed since The Gilded Age season 1 finale to this point in season 2, though the power couple certainly has a lot to be happy about. After much persistence, Bertha finally made her high society debut with a lavish ball attended by nearly every prominent socialite in the city. This included even the likes of Agnes Van Rhijn (Baranski), her sister Ada Brook (Nixon), and their longtime friend Caroline Astor (Donna Murphy), making an appearance at the behest of her daughter Carrie (Amy Forsyth). These are a few characters expected to see increased roles in The Gilded Age season 2, which will continue to explore the period of economic change and the rivalry between old money and new.
As Agnes and Ada's stupendously rich next-door neighbors, the ruthless railroad tycoon George and his equally ambitious wife, Bertha, are the epitome of new money and essential to the show's main conflict. If their shared glee in this first-look photo is any indication, the Russells will likely continue their rise to the upper echelon of New York in season 2. Whether their smiles will stay in place all season remains to be seen, but they will start out in a very good place. With production now underway, expect The Gilded Age season 2 to air sometime in early 2023.
Source: HBO/Twitter