Freeform’s Cruel Summer is back for season two with a whole new cast and plot! Much like the first season, the new season debuted at ATX Television Festival where we got to chat with the lead cast members.
But first, if you’re new to the Cruel Summer universe you can read about season one here. Both seasons of the series are mysteries set to multiple timelines. Season two is set in 1999 and 2000 while season one (which was shot on location in Dallas) took place earlier in the 90s.
As previously mentioned, we had the chance to sit down with the new cast, including Lexi Underwood who plays Isabella LaRue. Underwood is definitely one to watch. At only 18-years-old she’s already starred in Little Fires Everywhere and The First Lady. While she’s playing her own age, the story takes place four years before she was even born. Keep reading to find out what she had to say about that!
We started by asking Lexi to give us an elevator pitch on season two of Cruel Summer.
“Well, if you have seen season one, I would say that it’s the exact same format, same tone, just new mystery, new cast, new story, ” Lexi explained. She went on to say that this is a show for you if you love a good teen drama that throws you for a loop with every episode. “I think that the audience will have just as much fun (watching) as as we did (making it),” she said.
Here’s more of our interview with Lexi Underwood!
What’s something that helped prepare you for this role?
“Something that’s so beautiful about this story is the mere fact that no matter what generation or what age you are, you can relate to these characters in some way, shape or form. For me at the end of the day, she’s 18, I was 18 when we were filming. I just know the mind of an 18-year-old girl. And I think it’s really cool that the writers also brought up so many things that are so real too, especially what Gen-Z’ers are going through right now. We talked about so many important things especially toxic masculinity and all the things young girls go through on a day-to-day basis.
So just being able to draw from my real life and my own personal thoughts in the way in which I view the world, I was able to bring that into Isabella. And then also the differences as well was really cool to be able to come up with myself. Because we’re also very different in some ways.”
Season 2 is set in the late 90s. What’s something you learned about the 90s?
“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know that it was such a big thing about people thinking that world was going to end during the Y2K era. I was a bit taken aback by the fact that it was such a thing. But I love the 90s so much. I’m kind of jealous and wish that I was a 90s teen. But any chance I can get where I can immerse myself into the world, I’m obsessed with the fashion. Like the low rise jeans, the wedge sandals, the butterfly clips – all of it was such a bonus to be able to immerse myself into the world.”
We like to “Keep Austin weird.” What’s something weird about you?
“I don’t know, I don’t consider the things I do weird. I don’t consider things anyone does weird. I’m like, weird is cool and like just being yourself as authentically as possible and if someone calls that weird then, hey your doing it, you’re making it cool.”
What’s your favorite TV show of all time?
“BoJack Horseman or A Different World. I really love A Different World. I could watch it like all day every day. It was actually one of the first shows that I became obsessed with when I was six. Like I was obsessed with Brady Brunch, Crosby Show, A Different World – everything from that era. Family Matters! So all those shows.”
Who is your dream dinner guest?
“I would have to say Rihanna. I would just love to sit down and talk to her and pick her brain. She’s so smart and such a boss so I have so many different questions for her.”
What’s your theme song?
“Anything by Beyonce, but right now I would have to say “I’m That Girl” by Beyonce from the new album Renaissance. It always just hypes me up. Any Beyonce song makes me feel like i’m a boss.”
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
“I would really love to be able to talk to animals. To be able to like know every single language, I feel like that would be really cool! I would be able to communicate with everything and everyone. I just think that would be – that would be dope.”
Watch Lexi Underwood in the trailer for Cruel Summer season 2 here:
You can watch Cruel Summer Mondays on Freeform and stream on Hulu the next day.
