The mind-bending first season of The Copenhagen Test concluded with more questions than answers, but its creators already have a map for where the story could go next. In recent interviews, showrunners Thomas Brandon and Jennifer Yale have shared their vision for a potential second season, confirming the series was built as an ongoing story with specific thematic and narrative tracks to explore.
While streaming service Peacock has not officially announced a renewal for the sci-fi spy thriller, the creative team has “plans and ideas and hopes” for a continuation. The show’s December 27, 2025, premiere dropped all eight episodes of a season designed to leave the door wide open.
The Core Conflicts Driving a Potential Season 2
In conversations with Us Weekly and Deadline, creator Thomas Brandon explained that any future season would follow two central storylines.
The first is technological: tracking the evolution of the Cassandra RU258 nanites that hacked Alexander’s mind. “Where is the technology going? How does it grow? How does it adapt? How does it evolve?” Brandon asked, framing these questions as a way to examine our current moment.
The second track is intensely personal, following Alexander Hale as “a child of immigrants” and “a first-generation American who has a complicated relationship to loyalty and allegiance.” The central drama revolves around how far he is willing to go for a country he serves and the cost of that service.
“They’re like, ‘Great, give us your entire life. Be a double agent in your life, sacrifice your family, your friends, your loved ones, your body, everything.’ And he’s like, ‘OK.’ And the journey of the show is asking, ‘Should I be doing this?’ What is the line of how much you give to your country, when you’ve lost a part of yourself?” Brandon told Deadline.
Star Simu Liu, whose own background informed his understanding of the role, connected with this theme. “You grow up and you realize that history and all things are just so much more nuanced than that,” Liu said. “This idea of giving blind faith to a government โ first of all no government is perfect”.
Unresolved Mysteries and Character Arcs
The Season 1 finale delivered a major cliffhanger that directly sets up new stories. Alexander discovered he was not the only victim of the brain-hacking technology. His mentor, Victor (Saul Rubinek), revealed a wall of monitors showing five other “Assets” across the globeโfrom Mumbai to the Saharaโwhose senses are similarly compromised. Furthermore, Michelle, who was supposedly given a clean slate, was revealed to still be under surveillance as a “loose end”.
This opens several potential directions:
- The Global Network: A second season could expand the story’s scope, following Alexander as he interacts with or hunts the other five hacked individuals worldwide.
- Victor’s Endgame: The true purpose behind Victor’s experiment remains unclear. His statement that “it is never done” for people like them suggests a larger, ongoing mission.
- Michelle’s Fate: Co-showrunner Jennifer Yale teased unresolved questions about Michelle (Melissa Barrera). “Is that really where she went? Or is she undercover still? Is she still in the game?” she asked, indicating the character’s journey is incomplete.
Yale also noted that detailed backstories were developed for every major character, with some material, including a full teaser for Michelle, shot but not used to avoid giving away too much too soon.
The Enduring Thematic Backbone: Privacy and Consent
A potential second season would continue to explore the “weird consent issues” at the heart of the show. The writers spent significant time debating the limits of surveillance and the violation of Alexander’s privacy, even discussing a now-cut shower scene that visually underscored his total lack of bodily autonomy.
This theme extended to the complicated relationship between Alexander and Michelle. The showrunners intentionally built their chemistry before revealing her manipulations, making the audience complicit in the invasion.
“That’s why she says, ‘Are you sure?’ And she turns off the light,” Yale said, describing an intimate moment where both characters were acutely aware of their audience.
James Wan, an executive producer on the series, compared this dynamic to classic espionage thrillers and romantic capers like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, noting the blend of tension and romance.
Also Read:
Awaiting the Official Word
For now, fans of The Copenhagen Test must wait for Peacock to make a renewal decision. The streamer typically considers viewership numbers and completion rates before greenlighting more seasons. The entire first season, starring Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, and Saul Rubinek, is available to stream exclusively on Peacock.
Also Read: Matt Murdockโs Key Ally Returns in โDaredevil: Born Againโ Season 2
