Paramount+ announced Friday that Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) will be joining the highly anticipated second season of YellowJackets as Walter, a dedicated detective who will challenge Misty in ways she never expected. Produced by Entertainment One (eOne), the series will begin production later this month in Vancouver.

Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Narcos), the production stars Emmy-nominated and Critics’ Choice winner Melanie Lynskey (Castle Rock), Oscar- and Emmy-nominated Juliette Lewis (Camping), and Christina Ricci (Z: The beginning of everything). and Tawny Cypress (Unforgettable). Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under, Servant) and Simone Kessell (Obi-Wan Kenobi) were recently announced for series regular roles in the second season.

Seven Emmy Awards

YellowJackets was nominated for seven Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress for Melanie Lynskey, and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Christina Ricci. The production was also nominated for two Emmy Awards for its screenplay in the directing and casting categories. The first season of the show averaged more than 5 million weekly viewers on the platform.

The plot tells a story of survival that mixes drama with suspense and psychological horror. The series follows a team of talented high school footballers who suffer a mid-air plane crash, leaving the survivors in the middle of a Canadian forest. The thriving soccer team quickly becomes a savage clan fighting for survival. Twenty-five years later, the protagonists struggle to lead a normal life, despite a nightmare that haunts them more and more.

YellowJackets is produced by Lyle, Nickerson and showrunner Jonathan Lisco. Karyn Kusama also produced and directed the pilot episode. Creative Engine’s Drew Comins also served as executive producer.