Production on the highly anticipated second season of Peacock’s “Poker Face” has officially begun, with series star Natasha Lyonne stepping behind the camera to direct an episode. Creator Rian Johnson shared the news on social media, posting a photo of the show’s clapperboard from the first day of filming, which revealed Lyonne as the director for episode two.
The critically acclaimed series, which follows Charlie Cale (Lyonne), a casino worker with an extraordinary ability to detect lies, as she solves crimes across America, garnered significant praise for its first season. Lyonne’s performance earned her nominations for a Golden Globe, Emmy, and Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress.
“Poker Face” has been lauded for its “case-of-the-week” format, reminiscent of classic shows like “Columbo,” and its impressive roster of guest stars. The first season featured appearances by Adrien Brody, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Stephanie Hsu, and Chloë Sevigny, among others.
Tony Tost, a director working on the new season, expressed his excitement on social media, stating, “Still counting my blessings that I’m getting to step in and help make a new season of one of my favorite shows.”
Lyonne, who also serves as a writer and executive producer, previously directed the Season 1 episode “The Orpheus Syndrome.” Her increased involvement behind the scenes signals a deepening of her creative input into the show.
During Deadline’s TV Contender event last April, Johnson hinted at the show’s future, saying, “We want to keep doing it and I feel like it is very much built so that there is an overarching story but it’s kind of similar to the story of whether Sam is going to get home on Quantum Leap. It kind of doesn’t matter really, it’s just an engine to be able to keep her on the road and keep her moving and keep doing these little mysteries and having exciting people in them. Our goal is to just keep doing that as long as we can.”
The series’ success led to its renewal for a second season in February 2023, just a month after the premiere of Season 1. “Poker Face” currently holds a 98% critic score and 81% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, underlining its popularity with both critics and viewers.
While plot details and a release window for Season 2 remain under wraps, fans can expect the return of Charlie Cale’s crime-solving adventures. The introduction of Clea DuVall as Charlie’s sister Emily in the Season 1 finale has also sparked speculation about potential new storylines.
Nora and Lilla Zuckerman continue as showrunners and executive producers, with Johnson directing and co-writing several episodes. The series is produced by T-Street Productions and MRC, with Lyonne’s Animal Pictures also involved in production.
As “Poker Face” enters its sophomore season, the combination of Lyonne’s expanded role, Johnson’s creative vision, and the show’s proven formula suggests another compelling chapter in this modern mystery series.
