After a period of almost two years' silence from the cast and crew, the animated series "Arcane", inspired by the "League of Legends" universe, has finally revealed when its new season will air. Announced as officially renewed in November, just after the close of its first season, production has quietly moved ahead on the long-awaited return of Vi and Jinx. During the Video V Vision conference orchestrated by League parent company Tencent, the LeagueofLeaks fan account on Twitter relayed that new episodes would be available on Netflix in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Speculation about the exact date
Although no precise date has been given, all indications are that the new season could be unveiled in November, coinciding with the first broadcast of Arcane's initial season. The timing would also be strategic to mark the 15th anniversary of "League of Legends".
Admittedly, a three-year interval between the two seasons may seem long, but it's justified by the high quality of the animation.
Earlier in the year, Nicolo Laurent, CEO of Riot Games, had mentioned in an interview that a hasty return of the series in 2023 was not an option. He cited the team's desire to maintain the level of excellence of the first season and the uncertainties surrounding public reception, thus delaying the start of production on season 2. The first season itself took six years to complete.
The plot of the "Arcane" series
"Arcane" serves as a prequel to "League of Legends" and features the game's two iconic champion sisters, Vi and Jinx, immersed in the tensions between the prosperous city of Piltover and the oppressed underworld of Zaun. The divide is accentuated by the emergence of Hextech magic in Piltover and the dreaded "glitter" drug in Zaun. The destinies of Vi and Jinx take radically different paths: while Vi collaborates with Caitlyn, a detective in Piltover, Jinx finds herself under the influence of Zaun's crime lord, Silco.
Critically acclaimed as one of the best video game adaptations on TV, the series even won an Emmy for Best Animated Program, not to mention the prestigious Annie Awards.
The return of iconic characters
While the plot of Arcane season 2 remains shrouded in mystery for the time being, several actors have already confirmed their presence for the next season. Hailee Steinfeld will return as Vi, alongside Ella Purnell as Jinx and Katie Leung as Caitlyn. Reed Shannon (Ekko), Mick Wingert (Heimerdinger), Kevin Alejandro (Jayce) and Harry Lloyd (Viktor) are also set to return for the new season.
Surprisingly, Jason Spisak announced that he would be reprising his role as Silco. As a reminder, this iconic character was tragically killed by Jinx in the last episode. His reappearance could therefore be explained by flashback sequences or visions, unless season 2 has some big surprise in store for us. As the release date approaches, it's highly likely that the cast will be expanded with the introduction of new champions from the "League of Legends" universe.
The designers and technical team
Christian Linke and Alex Yee, co-creators of the series, take up the reins again for this new season. Produced under the aegis of Riot Games, animation will once again be entrusted to the French studio Fortiche.
For those wishing to refresh their memory or discover the series, the entire first season of Arcane is currently available on Netflix. And don't forget to check out the official trailer for season 2, unveiled last year.
