Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal Rumored for next ‘Beef’

Breakouts Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny are also in talks for the next iteration of Lee Sung Jin’s Netflix series, which will focus on feuding couples.

(Left) Charles Melton as Joe in 'May December.' Photo: François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix. (Center Left) Cailee Spaeny in director Sofia Coppola's 'Priscilla.' Photo: A24. (Center Right) Jake Gyllenhaal as Sgt. John Kinley in 'The Covenant,' directed by Guy Ritchie, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. (Right) Anne Hathaway in Apple TV+'s 'WeCrashed.'

Preview:

Creator Lee Sung Jin is developing a new series of ‘Beef’.
Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny are circling the leads.
Scripts for the new season are in place.

While we could certainly see a way forward for the characters in ‘Beef’ Season 1, it would appear that Netflix and creator Lee Sung Jin are going the anthology route for the series, taking a leaf out of Ryan Murphy’s ‘American Horror Story’/‘American Crime Story’ shows or Noah Hawley’s ‘Fargo’, which both switch out characters and stories between seasons.

But the idea of more ‘Beef’ is hardly a shock, since the first season has been scooping up trophies left, right and center, including at this past weekend’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. And from the sounds of Deadline’s new report, the cast is set to get even starrier.

What was the story of ‘Beef’ Season 1?

The first batch of ‘Beef’ episodes charted the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers.

Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a picturesque life. The increasing stakes of their feud unravel their lives and relationships.

Also in the cast? Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe and Patti Yasutake, with Maria Bello, Ashley Park, Justin H. Min, Mia Serafino and Remy Holt.

What would the story of ‘Beef’ Season 2 follow?

Lee Sung Jin, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun attend Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of 'BEEF' at Netflix Tudum Theater on March 30, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

(L to R) Lee Sung Jin, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun attend Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of 'BEEF' at Netflix Tudum Theater on March 30, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.

Details are extremely scarce on the new season, which Jin and his writers have apparently already worked on. But apparently it’ll pivot from characters feuding one-on-one to couples clashing.

That’s certainly a nice twist on the concept, and opens up possibilities for the future –– will we see families fight? Companies? Countries?

Who is being considered for ‘Beef’ Season 2?

(L to R) Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Love & Other Drugs.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

While Deadline cautions that talks are at a very early stage and deals have most certainly not been locked in place yet, word is that Jin is courting Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal (who already played a troubled couple in 2010 movie ‘Love & Other Drugs’) alongside Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny.

Hathaway and Gyllenhaal need little introduction, as they’re established stars. Melton, who was best known for ‘Riverdale’, broke out big last year in movie terms with ‘May December’, for which he was nominated for a slew of awards.

Spaeny, meanwhile, has had some solid roles, including in ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ and ‘Vice’ (plus TV series such as ‘Mare of Eastown’ and ‘Devs), but has earned rave reviews for her performance as Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’.

A24 and Netflix are looking to get this one moving to maintain the momentum, hoping for a shoot in late summer or fall.