Picture Credit: Netflix
We’re just a few short months away from The Hunting Wives returning for its highly anticipated second season this November. But looking ahead, the inevitable third season of Netflix’s hit soapy thriller will be undergoing a massive behind-the-scenes shakeup, should it get an official renewal, which looks increasingly likely.
As we’ve previously covered, The Hunting Wives season 2 is set to hit Netflix in November 2026, picking up the pieces after that wild first season, which was licensed to Netflix originally before the streamer stepped in and fully embraced the show. Based on May Cobb’s popular 2021 novel, the series—starring Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, and Dermot Mulroney—quickly became a breakout hit for the streamer, leaving fans eager for more of the elite (and deadly) Texas socialite drama. You can read our big interview with the stars for it here.
While Netflix has yet to officially announce a season 3 renewal, we’ve long expected it to be a sure thing. In fact, Dermot Mulroney (who plays the unscrupulous Jed Banks) let slip on The Tangle podcast back in May that the wheels were already turning.
“Even better news is that Season 3 is in prep,” Mulroney teased at the time. “I think they’ve got writers in the room, and they’re cooking up a third season already. And that should begin filming in the fall. So, that’s great news for all the fans of The Hunting Wives.” Mulroney also noted that while season 1 followed the novel, the creative team is going “off the chain” for future outings.
But when cameras do finally roll on season 3 later this year, they won’t be returning to the show’s original stomping grounds.
The Hunting Wives looks to be officially leaving North Carolina, where the first two seasons were filmed in and around the Charlotte area.
Fans have come to know local spots like the Azalea Retreat on Lake Norman (which serves as Margo’s stunning waterfront house), Downtown Mooresville, and the Dilworth Tasting Room as the real-life backdrops for the fictional town of Maple Brook, Texas.
So, why the sudden, dramatic move? It all comes down to state film incentives, or in other words, money.
Since 2019, North Carolina’s filming incentives have been managed by the N.C. Department of Commerce as a cash flow program, where funding could be secured based on future appropriations. However, recent changes by the NC General Assembly mean the Commerce Department can no longer base funding on those future appropriations, severely altering how movie and TV productions budget their shoots in the Tar Heel State.
In an email obtained by local news station WSOC, The Hunting Wives producer Joan Cunningham confirmed the departure, noting that the production will likely relocate to neighboring Georgia, a state renowned for its robust and reliable film tax credits. “The [incentives] program plays a key role in how we budget for each season and without the funds, the show will not be able to continue shooting in North Carolina,” Cunningham stated. “We will miss our North Carolina family and hope our paths cross again very soon.”
Gov. Josh Stein addressed the loss of the Netflix hit in a statement: “North Carolina’s film industry is an important part of our economy, supporting thousands of jobs and bringing millions in investment to our state. We must protect that success and give productions the certainty they need to invest here for the long term.”
If you’ve been following Netflix’s production history, this isn’t the first time the streamer has had to pull a massive hit out of North Carolina. Back in 2019, the hit YA series Outer Banks—which is literally named after and set on the NC coast—moved its filming to South Carolina following the controversial “bathroom bill.” Other network shows, like Showtime’s Homeland and Cinemax’s Banshee, similarly packed up and left the Charlotte area in past years as the state’s film incentives waxed and waned.
We’ll keep you posted as soon as Netflix makes the season 3 renewal official. Until then, you can catch up on everything we know about The Hunting Wives season 2 here.
Are you looking forward to more of The Hunting Wives? Let us know in the comments below!