Netflix's You season 5 release date, cast, spoilers and latest news

16 January 2025, 16:54 | Updated: 16 January 2025, 16:56

Left: Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, Right: Penn Badgley at Fashion Week — Season 5 of You was renewed in March, 2023. Picture: Alamy/Getty

By Tiasha Debray

The release date for You season 5 has finally been announced.

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Penn Badgley has returned for the fifth and final season of Netflix’s You and as the streaming giant revealed that filming has officially wrapped and a release date has been confirmed, fans are desperate to know what’s in store for this last chapter.

The psychological thriller has gone full circle and returned to New York City after the previous season was set in London where Penn starred alongside cast mates including Charlotte Ritchie, Tati Gabrielle and Lukas Gage.

The series was based on the books written by Caroline Kepnes, but with only four books published, series 5 is set to write out its own path and plot line.

So, what can we expect from You season 5? From the release date to the cast and all the latest news. Here’s what you need to know.

Read more: Penn Badgley And Brittany Snow Haven't Been Asked To Star In John Tucker Must Die Sequel

Still of Penn Badgley from season 4 of 'You' — Penn Badgley will return for the fifth and final season of Netflix’s ‘You’. Picture: Alamy

When is Netflix's You season 5 release date?

In January 2025 Netflix confirmed the official release date for You season 5 is April 24th 2025, after it was renewed for the fifth season in March 2023.

In the promo Penn's character Joe is seen standing in one of his human cages that is filled with blood and the words above him read: TO THE LAST BREATH.

Netflix captioned the post saying, "Every story must come to an end. The fifth and final season of YOU premieres 24 April, only on Netflix".

Originally Netflix expected that the fifth series would premiere in 2024, however, the strikes in Hollywood during 2023 caused significant delays. With production only starting in March 2024 it's exciting that a year later the fifth and final series will be out for fans to enjoy.

You season 4 was released in two parts with a month gap between them, Netflix have not announced this a two part series but if they do, we'll update this page!

Every story must come to an end.

The fifth and final season of YOU premieres 24 April, only on Netflix🩸 pic.twitter.com/raHxaxw845
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) January 16, 2025

Still of Charlotte Ritchie Kate in series 4 of 'You' — Charlotte Ritchie will reprise her role as Kate in series 5 of Netflix's 'You'. Picture: Alamy

Who is in the cast of You season 5?

As you already know, the You cast tends to change a lot from season to season with the only constant being Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg. Occasionally characters stick around for more but that all depends on whether or not they survive. Here are the suriving You season 4 characters that could appear in season 5.

Penn Badgley - Joe Goldberg
Tati Gabrielle - Marienne Bellamy
Charlotte Ritchie - Kate
Tilly Keeper - Lady Phoebe
Amy-Leigh Hickman - Nadia
Niccy Lin - Sophie
Ben Wiggins - Roald Walker-Burton
Ozioma Whenu - Blessing

With Malcolm (Stephen Hagan), Simon (Aidan Cheng), Gemma (Eve Austin), Adam (Lukas Gage) and Rhys (Ed Speelers) all dead now. It seems unlikely that any of them will return in season 5. Nonetheless, pretty much anything is possible in the world of You. Rhys could always return in Joe's hallucinations.

It's also possible that characters from past You seasons will return to the show in season 5. Ellie (Jenna Ortega) is still alive, as is Paco (Luca Padovan). Could either of them make a comeback?

Sera Gamble recently told IndieWire that Jenna was meant to be in season 4 but had filming conflicts. Sera teased: "We have ideas for Ellie if her schedule allows her to visit us again." Jenna also told Entertainment Tonight that she was "so devastated" that she couldn't be part of season 4.

Still of Lukas Gage and Tilly Keeper as their roles in series 4 of 'You' — Lukas Gage featured in series 4 of 'You' as Adam. Picture: Alamy

For fans hoping for the return of Joe’s evil alter ego, Rhys, actor Ed Speleers spoke to TV Insider about the possibility of his character's return.

“I would absolutely love a Rhys return,” Speleers told. “But as it stands, there’s nothing yet. If it ends up being Rhys isn’t involved, I feel very honoured that I got so much from that and so much time to play because Rhys was a great part to play”

”Again, I’m privileged and grateful to Netflix for giving me that chance because it was a different way for me to work. But at the moment, no, I’ve not heard.”

As for some older fan favourites, it’s not been confirmed yet whether Tati will return as the clever Marienne after she outwitted Joe in season 4.

Fans have also been hoping to see Amy-Leigh Hickman return as Nadia, although her character would be rotting away in prison somewhere after being framed by the psychopathic protagonist.

Still of Amy-Leigh Hickman and Penn Badgley as their roles in 'You' — You fans have also been hoping to see Amy-Leigh Hickman return as Nadia. Picture: Alamy

What will season 5 of You be about?

You season 4 ends with Joe getting away with his crimes and still in a relationship with Kate. Not only that but Kate actually helps Joe to cover up his past antics. In a televised interview, he claims that he had to fake his death following an abusive relationship with Love.

It's unclear exactly how much of Joe's past Kate is aware of though. In an episode of PodCrushed, Penn's co-host Nava Kavelin discusses how Joe is inspired by Rhys Montrose in season 4 and asks Penn: "Is Joe gonna run for political office in season 5?"

Appearing to confirm Nava's theory, Penn responds: "Yeah…I can’t say. I don’t know but it certainly is interesting and tracks." Joe going into politics? Sounds messy. Not to mention, with Nadia, Marienne and Ellie still aware of what Joe is actually capable of, it's possible that one or all of them will try to expose his killings in season 5.

You author Caroline Kepnes is also releasing a new novel from Joe's point of view, For You and Only You on April 25, 2023, so there's a chance that season 5 will take inspiration from that.

As well as this Penn revealed to TV Insider:“It feels to me like it’s building towards one last giant hurrah, but I don’t know… If Joe has really embraced this part of himself, what does that mean?”