Nicole Kidman’s divisive Netflix mystery seriesThe Perfect Couplehits trouble for season 2 as a behind-the-scenes shake-up forces a roadblock in production. Based on the novel of the same name, Netflix’sThe Perfect Coupleis a miniseries starring Kidman as famous novelist Greer Garrison Winbury, attending the wedding of Eve Hewson’s Amelia Sacks which is disrupted by a murder.
The Perfect Couplereviewswere mixed, with the show currently sitting at a 66% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it was viewed enough that a sequel series was greenlit, based on the 2024 novelSwan Song. The show’s production was reported in March 2025, withThe Bearco-showrunner Joanna Calo tapped as both writer and showrunnerfor the follow-up.
As of writing, Netflix has not officially confirmedThe Perfect Coupleseason 2.
Now,Deadlinereports thatCalo has stepped away fromThe Perfect Coupleseason 2, no longer serving as showrunner on theSwan Songadaptation. The series, which is in early development, now has no lead writer nor showrunner attached, with no word on how the series will proceed now that it has no one at the helm.
What Joanna Calo Leaving The Perfect Couple Season 2 Means For The Sequel Series
Swan Songfollows the Richardsons, a couple whose riches and wealth-adorned parties in the multi-million-dollar summer home are turned upside down when the house burns down and an employee goes missing. The story follows up onThe Perfect Couple’s endingwhile telling a new tale layered with similar themes and ideas as its predecessor, both written by Elin Hilderbrand.
While Jenna Lamia was writer and showrunner for season 1, she isn’t set to return forThe Perfect Coupleseason 2. However, now that Calo’s out of the picture, it’s unclear what the future holds for the possible continuation. Since Netflix hasn’t announced anything, the exact amount of development the show’s had thus far remains unclear.
Our Take On Calo Exiting The Perfect Couple Season 2
Although the series hasn’t been formally renewed by Netflix, Calo’s work onThe Bear, as well as character-driven projects likeBeefandThunderbolts*, for which she served as a writer, proves how well she can juggle big casts of memorable characters. This made her a perfect choice to leadThe Perfect Coupleseason 2, bringingSwan Song’s cast to life.
With her exit, it seemsThe Perfect Couplewill be hard-pressed to find someone just as talented to lead its follow-up. Whether Lamia is still on the table or it’ll be handed to someone new entirely remains unclear. However, Calo’s exit opens a hole behind-the-scenes that won’t be easy to fill, especially when it’s unclear how much development took place.
