Into the Badlands: Season Two Plans Teased by Co-Creator

Despite a leak that was later retracted, AMC has yet to renew its Into the Badlands series for season two. Still, this futuristic martial arts drama is more likely to be picked up for a second season, than it is to be cancelled. Warning: this article contains spoilers for Into the Badlands‘ first season finale.

ComicBook.com reports that EPs Al Gough and Miles Millar have not received an official pickup for Into the Badlands season two, but according to them, AMC is “happy with the show and how it’s performing.” They also talked about what a second season might hold for Sunny (Daniel Wu), M.K. (Aramis Knight), Veil (Madeleine Mantock), Quinn (Marton Csokas) and more.

From ComicBook.com:

[At] the end of the season many of these characters scattered to the wind, and we have the introduction of these supernaturally gifted abbots in this really incredible fight scene. I’m wondering how eager you guys are to explore these new areas and concepts, possibly even beyond Badlands with Sunny, and really build out this world and what audiences. What should fans look forward to, from that angle, in Season 2?

Al Gough: […] In season two, you’ll meet more Barons. We’ll explore the abbots. We’ll explore other areas of the Badlands. Even though Sunny and M.K. look like they’re being taken far away, Sunny’s goal is going to be to get back to Veil and find M.K. Ultimately, it becomes what the series is called, Into the Badlands. Then, when you go into the Badlands, when you’re not a regent, when you don’t have Clippers, even though you’re Sunny and you clearly have proven time and time again you can take out a lot of people, there’s a lot of threats that will be coming at you. Everything you’ve done in your life, all of those tattoos on your back have consequences attached to them. You’ll definitely see more of the Badlands in season two, and really start to see the journey, the literal journey of these characters.

At the end of the season, we see Lydia has left, Baron Quinn is gone. That leaves Jade and…I think Ryder survives that last fight?

Miles Millar: Ryder runs off.

Al Gough: Yeah, you see Ryder’s run off. There’s Jade. Quinn is questionable. if he survived or not. You definitely see that this real power structure in the Badlands, it’s a big hit for this. That is going to lead to a lot of chaos and a lot of power grabbing in season two.

What kind of state is the Fort left in now? Is Jade the only remaining authority?

Al Gough: You’ll have to wait for season two.

TV Guide also features some season two teases from Gough and Millar:

1. Is Quinn really dead? Although Sunny’s known for his lethal way with a blade, the show’s creators won’t commit either way. “Quinn’s the ultimate survivor, but it’s definitely an open question,” Gough says. Translation: He’ll probably survive. However, that scene was about much more than whether Quinn lives or dies. […]

2. Can Sunny actually stop clipping? Although Sunny vowed to stop killing after he stabbed Quinn, it’s hard to believe that he’ll be able to, given his new predicament with the River King. “I certainly think that’s Sunny’s intention, but when he’s killed that many people, your soul is pretty dark and pretty heavy,” Gough says. Perhaps more importantly, will Veil ever take him back? “I think Veil does want to believe in the best in Sunny,” Gough says. “Even with her doubts and everything Quinn planted, she wants to believe that he can change and I think she’s the light in his life that can give him hope that he can change.”

3. What do the abbots want with M.K.? Millar and Gough say the spiritual component of the show takes a much stronger presence moving forward. “These six episodes are really a super-long pilot in terms of really introducing the characters and the world of the Badlands and opening all sorts of possibilities for future seasons,” Millar says. […]

4. Who’s in charge now? Quinn and Jacobee could both possibly be dead, and the Widow is in need of a tincture that Tilda may or may not give her. Although Ryder did slither away, the producers say part of the excitement for Season 2 is not knowing which power will emerge. “What’s going to happen when you’ve had these big blows to the power structure in the Badlands?” Gough says. “It’s always about strength and weakness, and a lot of the strong people in this episode have been enslaved and chained, and others are finding a new strength.” Adds Millar: “The plates have definitely shifted. Quinn tells Ryder, ‘There’s no turning back,’ and that’s definitely true.”

5. Where is Sunny going? […] “In Season 2, we’re going to see a lot more of the Badlands,” Millar says. “Sunny’s going into the Badlands to get Veil. He’s struggling and fighting to get what is closest to his heart. He can’t escape. Redemption is a process, and hopefully Sunny will have many seasons of television to redeem himself.”

What do you think?

Did you enjoy the first season of AMC’s Into the Badlands TV show? Do you think it should be cancelled, or renewed for a second season? Tell us.