The fifth season of Hacks will bring the celebrated story of comedian Deborah Vance and writer Ava Daniels to HBO Max this year. While the show’s creators have always envisioned a five-season arc, they are now hinting that the upcoming season might not be the absolute end, leaving the door open for more stories with these beloved characters.
The Official Word on Season 5 and the Show’s Future
Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs, the co-creators and showrunners of Hacks, recently addressed the show’s future at the 78th DGA Awards in February 2026. When asked if the upcoming fifth season is the final chapter, Downs played coy, stating, “Nobody wants it to be, I’ll tell you that, including [lead] Jean Smart. A lot of people are making it hard to be the final season. We cannot confirm or deny at this time.”
This echoes comments from HBO and Max’s Chairman, Casey Bloys, who has said the network defers to the creators on such decisions. “It certainly seems that way [that Hacks is concluding with Season 5], but on decisions like that, we will defer to the showrunners,” Bloys told Deadline.
Despite the non-committal answers from leadership, star Hannah Einbinder has previously referred to Season 5 as “the last season” on the 2025 Emmys red carpet, calling the knowledge “bittersweet” but the right decision to not overstay the show’s welcome.
A Planned Ending Years in the Making
The creators have consistently had a clear ending in mind since they first pitched the series. Aniello explained at the DGA Awards, “We pitched this show initially with the last scene in the pitch. Like, ‘It’s five seasons, this is what the last scene is.’ It is still the same, so for us, it’s something we’ve been building toward for a long time.”
The only element that has changed over time is the “runway” to reach that planned conclusion. Downs joked that they might need “five and a half at least?” seasons to properly wrap up the story. In a previous interview, he elaborated that while the final scene has been set since 2015, the journey to get there in Season 5 is flexible based on the story’s needs.
Could There Be a Hacks Movie After Season 5?
In a lighthearted moment that excited fans, Aniello and Downs joked about the potential for a Hacks movie, taking a page from other iconic series. “We love living with these characters,” Downs said, expressing openness to a feature-length follow-up.
They directly referenced the famous “six seasons and a movie” fan rallying cry for Community by joking about doing “five seasons and a movie” for Hacks. They also drew parallels to the Sex and the City films that continued the story after the TV series ended. The creators even mentioned bringing a preliminary script for a potential movie to the DGA Awards for feedback.
What to Expect in Hacks Season 5
Production for Season 5 began in September 2025, with filming spotted in New York City. The new season picks up after the dramatic events of the Season 4 finale, where a tabloid falsely reported Deborah’s death and declared she had “retired” after “killing” late-night comedy.
Downs teased that “a lot of things are full-circle” as Deborah and Ava head back to Las Vegas for what is set up to be a major comedic comeback for Deborah Vance. He summarized the season’s drive, stating, “A lot of our season 5 is going to be about [Deborah] sort of reinventing herself and rewriting her legacy after she’s been blamed for the death of late-night.”
The core cast will return, including Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, and Rose Abdoo. They will be joined by new series regular Christopher Briney (The Summer I Turned Pretty), whose character details are still under wraps.
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The Cast’s Thoughts on a Potential Ending
Jean Smart has shared her trust in the creators’ long-term plan. When asked how she would end the characters’ stories, she admitted she has “no idea what they have in mind, and they’ve had it in mind for years. I just haven’t asked.” Both Smart and Einbinder have expressed a desire for Deborah and Ava to maintain their unique bond while building full lives apart. Smart added, “Yeah, then to be able to let each other go, but stay totally in each other’s lives.”
The show was officially renewed for its fifth season in May 2025, ahead of the Season 4 finale. Smart and Einbinder announced the news in a celebratory Instagram video, with Einbinder humorously promising to “continue to pitch the lesbian arc”.
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