Streaming platform Apple TV has officially set a December 2 release date for the second season of comedy series Bad Monkey starring Vince Vaughn.
The streamer also released the first preview images for the new season, which will consist of ten episodes. Following its Wednesday debut, new episodes will premiere weekly on the platform until February 3, 2027.
New case and Florida criminal underworld
The second season introduces a completely fresh storyline for lead character Andrew Yancy, played by Vince Vaughn. The former police detective finds himself pulled into a new investigation after witnessing the murder of Florida's top problem solver.
Following the killing, Yancy is recruited by an ambitious state prosecutor to help clear up what happened. To solve the crime, he is paired with a meticulous forensic accountant.
The high-stakes investigation presents Yancy with an opportunity to try to regain his detective badge. However, his plans quickly become complicated as he finds himself trapped in a turf war between rival criminal organizations.
As the conflict escalates, Yancy crosses paths with a new gallery of peculiar figures connected to Florida's criminal underworld. These include a sophisticated mob boss, the boss's unpredictable son, and a young woman who requires Yancy's protection.
The series will preserve the signature combination of criminal investigation, comedy, and eccentric characters that defined its debut season. Bad Monkey originally premiered on Apple TV+ in August 2024, adapting author Carl Hiaasen's 2013 satirical crime novel about a suspended Miami detective reassigned to restaurant health inspections in the Florida Keys.
Personal struggles and subplots
Professional problems will not be the only challenges facing Yancy in the upcoming season. He must also navigate personal difficulties, including caring for his elderly father.
At the same time, unresolved romantic tension remains between Yancy and Dr. Rosa Campesino. Natalie Martinez returns to play the medical examiner who formed a close connection with Yancy during the first season.
Rosa gets her own dedicated plotline this season when she begins an investigation into a mysterious rash. Her medical inquiry unfolds alongside Yancy's murder investigation.
The season also introduces an extravagant animal transport specialist to the story. The specialist's chaotic business operations threaten to cause serious environmental consequences for the local Florida ecosystem.
Environmental themes are a staple of novelist Carl Hiaasen's work. His Florida-set books frequently contrast human greed and eccentric crimes against the delicate natural habitats of South Florida and the Everglades.
Returning cast and new additions
Vince Vaughn and Natalie Martinez lead the returning cast alongside Charlotte Lawrence and John Ortiz. Lawrence plays Caitlin, while Ortiz returns as Yancy's former police partner Rogelio.
The main cast expands significantly with three major additions for season two. Film and television actors John Malkovich, Yvonne Strahovski, and Zavior Phillips join the series as new main cast members across the ten-episode run.
Malkovich is an Academy Award-nominated actor known for films such as Being John Malkovich and Places in the Heart, while Strahovski is an Australian actress acclaimed for her roles in The Handmaid's Tale, Chuck, and Dexter.
The season also features a wide roster of notable guest stars. Appearing in guest roles are Nate Jackson, Sofia Boutella, Brent Morin, Joey Avery, Dax Shepard, Sam Jaeger, Margarita Levieva, Peter Billingsley, and June Diane Raphael.
The guest lineup includes well-known Hollywood figures, including Boutella from Kingsman: The Secret Service, Shepard from NBC's Parenthood, Billingsley from A Christmas Story, and Raphael from Grace and Frankie.
Production team and executive producers
Bill Lawrence continues as creator and showrunner of Bad Monkey, developing the series through his production company Doozer Productions. Warner Bros. Television handles production duties for Apple TV.
Lawrence serves as executive producer alongside Jeff Ingold, Matt Tarses, Vince Vaughn, Liza Katzer, Adam Sztykiel, Chris Downey, and author Carl Hiaasen. Lawrence is an Emmy Award-winning producer who created hit comedies Scrubs and Cougar Town, and co-created Ted Lasso and Shrinking for Apple TV+.
Unlike the first season, which adapted the narrative arc of Hiaasen's original novel, the new episodes tell a completely original story. However, the show keeps Yancy at the center of the action and continues exploring its distinct crime comedy portrait of Florida.
Apple TV will launch the second season of Bad Monkey on Wednesday, December 2, with weekly episode releases continuing into early February 2027.
