Bad Monkey Season Two Gets a Trailer and a December 2 Premiere Date on Apple TV

Apple TV has a date and a trailer for the second season of Bad Monkey, and the more interesting detail is that this season isn't adapting another Carl Hiaasen book. The 10-episode run is built around a new original story, which means the show is no longer tracking its source novel. For a series that started as an adaptation of a cult favorite, that's a meaningful shift.

The release schedule

Season two opens on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, with a single episode. After that, Apple says a new episode arrives every Wednesday through February 3, 2027. That's a sensible pattern for a comedy with a serialized mystery at its core: one premiere to set the tone, then a steady weekly drip that keeps the story moving. If you're planning to binge, the full run should be available by early February, but you'll have to wait through the holiday weeks to see the finale.

What the new story covers

Andrew Yancy, played by Vince Vaughn, is back in the middle of a mess. After he witnesses the killing of a fixer known as Florida's finest, an ambitious state attorney partners him with a buttoned-up forensic accountant. The case pulls Yancy into a turf war between rival criminal organizations, and he has to move through a cast of Florida eccentrics, including an erudite mob boss, the mob boss's unhinged son, and a hard-edged young woman who needs Yancy to keep her safe.

Apple's description also points to plenty happening outside the main case. Yancy has to deal with his aging father. Romantic tension with Dr. Rosa Campesino, played by Natalie Martinez, is still unresolved, and she's running her own investigation into a mysterious rash. A bombastic animal relocation specialist, whose business threatens the local environment, rounds out the season's subplots. That's a lot of threads for ten episodes, and it suggests the show is leaning into its ensemble rather than relying on one case to carry it.

Cast: who's back and who's new

Returning cast members include Vaughn, Martinez, Charlotte Lawrence, and John Ortiz. The newcomers are John Malkovich, Yvonne Strahovski, and Zavior Phillips. Apple also lists a set of guest stars: Nate Jackson, Sofia Boutella, Brent Morin, Joey Avery, Dax Shepard, Sam Jaeger, Margarita Levieva, Peter Billingsley, and June Diane Raphael.

Adding Malkovich and Strahovski to a comedy that already had a strong ensemble is the kind of casting move that tends to change the show's rhythm. Heavier dramatic weight from veteran performers often pushes a comedy toward sharper villains and more pointed scenes, though how much that happens here will only be clear once episodes are out.

Behind the scenes

Warner Bros. Television produces Bad Monkey. Bill Lawrence, the executive producer and showrunner, developed the series through his Doozer Productions and its overall deal with WBTV. Jeff Ingold, Matt Tarses, Vaughn, Liza Katzer, Adam Sztykiel, Chris Downey, and Hiaasen also serve as executive producers. Having Hiaasen still on the producing team matters for a show that has moved past his book, since it keeps his tone and sensibility in the room even as the plot diverges.

Apple quotes critics describing season one as "smartly written" with "standout performances." Those are the company's words, not independent verdicts, but the first season is the best reference point for what season two should deliver in terms of tone.

Where to watch and what it costs

Season one is streaming now on Apple TV. The service is available in the Apple TV app in more than 100 countries and regions, and across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, several smart TV brands including Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, and TCL, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, and PlayStation and Xbox consoles. It's also accessible on the web at tv.apple.com.

Apple lists the subscription at $14.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. That's the price to plan around if you're thinking about watching season one first and then keeping the subscription through the new run.

What to watch for

My read is that the real test for season two is whether the show can keep its many subplots from spinning apart. Season one worked because Yancy's reluctant partnership with the accountant gave the story a spine. A new original plot with a turf war, a family drama, a romance that won't resolve, and an environmental side story is a wide net to cast. If the writers can tie those threads together by the midpoint, the weekly format should suit the show well. If not, a ten-episode run could start to feel crowded. Either way, the December 2 premiere is the first concrete signal, and it's worth watching closely.