The Empress Season 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Trailer

Is Sisi returning?

Netflix has confirmed The Empress season 2, but there is no word on when we may expect to see it.

After marrying Emperor Franz Joseph, a rebellious princess becomes Empress of Austria and enters the realm of politics at the Viennese court in 1854.

Because of the soap-like ups and downs (mainly downs, regrettably) of her life, the trials and tribulations of the young ‘Sisi’ (or ‘Sissi’ depending on who you ask) in the heart of the Habsburg empire have long been a popular theme in Austrian and German history.

What’s more, guess what? It was a major success for the network, and not just in German-speaking countries. After all, lavish royalty-themed period dramas often do well on Netflix. Simply inquire at The Crown or Bridgerton.

With that unexpected cliffhanger (and a quick look through some history books that should assist), what can we expect from the next season, and when can we expect it?

Here’s all we know about season two of The Empress.

The Empress season 2 Netflix renewal status

It’s taken a little over 6 weeks but Netflix has confirmed its renewal of The Empress for a second season.

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The Empress had a fantastic start on Netflix. Within the first two weeks of its release, the series had over 106,000,000 million hours viewed and was the most-watched non-English language series on Netflix for at least a week. So far, the series has received 159,800,000 million hours of viewing time on Netflix.

The Empress Season 2 Release Date

Rejoice! The Empress performed well enough to deserve a second season. According to the Deadline, it has been ordered and is currently in pre-production. As with other Netflix shows, its return was contingent on viewership, so enough people clicked ‘next episode’ to make that a reality.

“I am immensely grateful that our series was able to impact so many diverse people in Germany and around the world,” said creator Katharina Eyssen in a statement.

“The narrative of Elisabeth’s life is a story about the power of love, but also about the courage to be different and hope for a brighter future, which is exactly what we need right now. That is why we are overjoyed to be able to keep telling this thrilling narrative.”

Katja Hofem, Netflix’s Vice President of Content for DACH (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), added: “It’s fantastic to see how our version of this well-known historical character has piqued the attention and passion of so many people. It demonstrates that the public wants to see more of Elisabeth.”

If filming begins immediately, we could see new episodes as early as the end of 2023, though 2024 seems more likely.

Fans can read the show’s companion novel of the same name, which novelist Gigi Griffis adapted from Eyssen’s screenplays, in the meantime.

While onscreen “we see longing glances” and “the arrangement of bodies,” Griffis told Tudum that the book provides a greater grasp of what is “going through that person’s thoughts”.

The Empress Season 2 Cast

Devrim Lingnau has stated that she will return to reprise her role as Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, dubbed Sisi/Sissi. After all, what is The Empress if not The Empress?

Philip Froissart will play Emperor Franz Joseph, Melika Foroutan will play Archduchess Sophie, Johannes Nussbaum will play Archduke Maximilian, Jördis Triebel will play Princess Ludovika, and Almila Bagriacik will play Countess Leontine von Apafi.

As always, there is the possibility of some new faces joining.

• Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth von Wittelsbach
• Philip Froissant as Franz Joseph I of Austria
• Melika Foroutan as Princess Sophie of Bavaria,
• Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian
• Elisa Schlott as Duchess Helene in Bavaria
• Jördis Triebel as Princess Ludovika of Bavaria
• Almila Bagriacik as Countess Leontine von Apafi
• Hanna Hilsdorf as Countess Amalia von Salm Reifferscheidt.
• Runa Greiner as Countess Charlotte von Stubenberg
• Svenja Jung as Countess Louise Gundemann
• Andreas Döhler as Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria
• Wiebke Puls as Countess Sophie Esterházy
• Michael Fuith as Archduke Franz Karl of Austria
• Felix Nölle as Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria
• Martin Butzke as Gustav, Prince of Vasa

The Empress Season 2 Plot

In the end of The Empress, Elisabeth is imprisoned within the palace gates for breaking royal protocol (showing compassion) after visiting the iron foundry and giving her shoes to a young girl in need.

As Elisabeth loses hope that anything would be done to assist the needy, she succumbs to despair and joins Franz’s brother Maximillian in partying the days away, further tarnishing her reputation.

Archduchess Sophie, clearly frustrated with the rebellious Empress, that Elisabeth return to Bavaria, and Franz, who exchanges some harsh words with his wife and accuses her of consorting with his brother, agrees.

Nevertheless, before Franz advises Elisabeth to go, she discovers she is pregnant for the first time. However, the Empress is saddened and refuses to tell her husband the news.

When Elisabeth is ready to go, the exit is completely blocked by a big, angry throng that had gathered at the palace gates to criticize the Emperor. Though the guards request that the carriage be turned around, Elisabeth insists on the gates being opened.

As Franz and Sophia look on, the Empress embraces the throng and declares, “I see you,” before informing them that she is pregnant.

Will her actions persuade the public? Is she capable of forgiving Franz? Sophie, what are your plans for her now that she’s pregnant?

What we do know is that the Archduchess will continue to make Elisabeth’s life within the castle gates miserable from now on, if the drama correctly tells the historical story.

About 10 months after marrying the Duke, the empress gave birth to her first child, Archduchess Sophie of Austria.

The elder Archduchess gave the kid her own name and seized all parental responsibilities without Elisabeth’s consent, barring Elisabeth from caring for or breastfeeding her own baby.

A year later, Elisabeth gave birth to another daughter, and Sophie is reported to have chastised her daughter-in-law with a nasty pamphlet for failing to produce a male heir.

Now that it’s been approved, we can expect all of this to be explored in season two.

The Empress Season 2 Trailer

We don’t see it happening anytime soon. There is certainly no footage without filming. But keep checking back, and we’ll let you know as soon as we have any fresh information.

The Empress is now streaming on Netflix.

Can The Empress become the successor to The Crown?

It will be difficult for any historical drama to rival Netflix’s wildly successful original series The Crown. The Empress, on the other hand, has the potential to become the non-English language counterpart.

There could be more seasons of The Empress to look forward to in the future, with many decades of Elisabeth’s life to examine.

Do you want a second season of The Empress on Netflix? Please let us know in the comments!