If you have yet to watch the first season of Julia, about the remarkable rise of the iconic Julia Child and her TV series The French Chef, then do so immediately. The critically acclaimed series—which debuted on Max (previously HBO Max) in the spring of 2022—will return for season two November 16 with an additional eight episodes that expand Julia’s universe, both literally and figuratively.
Case in point: The first three episodes of Julia season two are off to the French Riviera and Paris. And even among the new settings, the show continues to blend its signature humor with insightful commentary on what it meant to be not just a woman in the ’50s and ’60s but one pursuing her second act and doing so unapologetically.
To mark the occasion, Glamour has an exclusive first look as Julia Child (played by the dynamite Sarah Lancashire) and Simca Beck (Isabella Rossellini) reunite in the South of France, which serves as a spectacular backdrop complete with epic culinary adventures. But first, check out the official trailer, which dropped on October 24.
In order to bring those episodes to life, the show filmed on location last summer in and around Provence, Nice, Cannes, Antibes, and Paris. “I mean, it was work, but it was pretty great,” executive producer Erwin Stoff tells Glamour. “We all lived the experience of those episodes. As much as you see Julia and her husband, Paul, enjoying France, we all did just as much.” Stoff adds that “Sarah Lancashire, particularly, has a tremendous affinity and love for that part of France, so she was just so happy to be there. Every so often you sort of pinch yourself and go, ‘Oh, this is a job, I guess. But it sure doesn't feel like it.’”
Julia’s return couldn't come at a better time, especially now that there’s a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel–size hole in the TV landscape. The show’s period-perfect costumes and set design are aesthetically stunning, while the dialogue and underlying themes—like aging, the women’s movement—give a certain gravitas to what’s brewing behind the scenes.
“Julia Child came into her prime when she realized, ‘Wait a second, I can do this,’” executive producer Kimberly Carver says. “There are so many women who are in their 50s who feel they don’t know what else to do [in life]. They’ve raised their children and so on. For me, that has always been the theme that I’ve wanted to see, and to see this woman do it…. Julia changed everything. She changed public television. She changed how simple it could be to make this food. And she changed the culture of food and where it is today. Julia, with her spontaneity, her wit, her candor, made cooking more fun. And she made the American kitchen the kind of a place where you can have fun.”
Stoff agrees: “Julia Child never gave up and she never let success change her,” he says. “She never lost her authenticity. And everyone that I’ve ever worked with that is successful has been smart enough to know their authenticity is what got them there.”
So what else do we know about the show’s sophomore season? From the premiere date to the episode titles, here’s your go-to guide for the new season.
Where did we leave off in season one?
Julia tells Hunter (her boss at WGBH) that she’s game to do a second season of The French Chef, but first she needs some time to decompress and do some research—in France, of course. Meanwhile, with the show back on, Julia’s producer, Alice, tells new love interest Isaac that she’ll need to prioritize work, thereby throwing a wrench in their newfound romance. As the season comes to a close, Avis decides she’s ready to get back out there and really live life, while Julia and Paul toast their success and more adventures to come. It’s off to France we go!
What’s the official synopsis for season two?
Here's the official logline, released to the press in October 2023:
“With her trailblazing cooking show up and running on the air, Julia grapples with her rising celebrity and what that means for her, her colleagues and her show. In season two, Julia and her devoted husband Paul return from Simca’s home in France to find that her success has changed everything. Through her singular joie de vivre, she and her team must navigate WGBH, the White House, and a threat from their past, while continuing to spearhead female-driven public television and confront social issues still prevalent today.”
Carver told Glamour in August that Julia and Paul will come to terms with what happens as the show gets even more popular, and how they deal with the stress and pressure of maintaining its success while keeping it feeling fresh and new. The same goes for the team at WGBH, which comes under pressure to replicate Julia’s success with other shows. “They were just a very small local public broadcasting station [until Julia came along], so you’re going to see the craziness that happens [with success],” she said.
Meanwhile, Stoff says everybody's life gets more complicated as a result of Julia’s sudden fame. But it’s not all stressful. “[Those around Julia will] experience new worlds and challenges because of the success she has,” she says.
When will season two premiere?
The new season debuts Thursday, November 16, with three episodes, followed by one a week until the finale on Thursday, December 21. “Season two involves food and family and gathering, [so the team at Max thought it] would make more sense to actually premiere the show closer to the Thanksgiving, when families are together,” Carver says. “It’s a brilliant strategy.”
Who’s coming back this season?
Series regulars include Sarah Lancashire (Julia Child), David Hyde Pierce (Paul Child), Bebe Neuwirth (Avis DeVoto), Brittany Bradford (Alice Naman), Fran Kranz (Russ Morash), Fiona Glascott (Judith Jones), and Robert Joy (Hunter Fox). Returning guest stars include Judith Light (Blanche Knopf), Isabella Rossellini (Simone “Simca” Beck), Tosin Morohunfola (Isaac), Christian Clemenson (James Beard), and more.
What about new additions to the cast?
Rachel Bloom joins Julia as Elaine Levitch, a powerhouse director who comes to WGBH from CBS. According to Carver, Bloom’s agents reached out to say that she wanted to be on the show. “She just said, ‘I want to be on Julia.’ I think that’s what makes the show—the characters [and] the incredible talent.”
In other casting news, Stockard Channing appears early in the season, as does Craig Bierko.
The episode titles make us hungry. What’s on tap for season two?
In case you like to plan your dinners based on the episodes that air, here are the official season-two episode titles. The first three episodes will premiere on Thursday, November 16, followed by one a week every Thursday, until the finale, on December 21, 2023.
Episode 201: “Loup en Croûte” (airdate: Thursday, November 16)
Episode 202: “Fried Chicken” (Thursday, November 16)
Episode 203: “Pressed Duck” (Thursday, November 16)
Episode 204: “Chocolate Mousse” (Thursday, November 23, Thanksgiving)
Episode 205: “Bûche de Noël” (Thursday, November 30)
Episode 206: “Chartwinkerie” (Thursday, December 7)
Episode 207: “Shrimp & Grits” (Thursday, December 14)
Episode 208: “Lobster Américaine” (Thursday, December 21)
Who’s the team behind Julia?
Lionsgate and 3 Arts Entertainment, for one. Chris Keyser serves as showrunner, as well as executive producer alongside creator Daniel Goldfarb. Erwin Stoff of 3 Arts Entertainment, Kimberly Carver, Donna E. Bloom, Charles McDougall, and Erica Lipez also executive produce. Todd Schulkin is a consulting producer on behalf of the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts.
At the time of its second season renewal, Max’s Sarah Aubrey, who is head of original content at the streamer, said, “Sarah Lancashire welcomed us into the life of Julia Child, a trailblazer who, among her many accomplishments, redefined the possibilities of public television and, in turn, brought French cuisine and culture into American living rooms. We are grateful to our creative team, led by Chris Keyser and Daniel Goldfarb, and talented cast who entranced us all with an endless helping of warmth and charm. Julia is the perfect show for this moment and we look forward to serving more in season two.”
Below, watch as Lancashire transforms herself into the iconic chef and TV personality:
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the New York Times best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.
