Donald Glover’s acclaimed series Atlanta has been renewed by FX for season 4, with seasons 3 and 4 set to begin production in 2020. After a stint as a writer on NBC’s 30 Rock, followed by a five-season tenure on the same network’s beloved sitcom Community, Glover took a hard right turn by launching a successful rap career under the stage name Childish Gambino. But in 2016 Glover returned to the world of episodic television with his series Atlanta, a sometimes surreal excursion into the travails of fictional hip-hop artist Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), his harried manager Earn (Glover) and their stoned friend Darius (Lakeith Stanfield)
Though Atlanta indeed revolves largely around Earn’s efforts to help Paper Boi advance in the rap game, the series encompasses far more than just that, and in two seasons has established itself as an endlessly creative and challenging critique of everything from the music business to media to society at large. Relationship stories play heavily into Atlanta’s tapestry as well, particularly those concerning Earn and his sometime-girlfriend Van, played by Deadpool 2’s Zazie Beetz. In 2017, Atlanta was crowned by the Golden Globes which named it Best TV Series - Musical or Comedy while giving Glover the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy. The Emmys have also lauded the show, giving Glover the 2017 award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series as well as the prize for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, making him the first African-American to claim a TV comedy directing Emmy.
With seasons 1 and 2 of Atlanta claiming so much critical applause, it was no surprise when FX in mid 2018 gave the go ahead for season 3. Now, the network has extended the series’ life by one more season, officially renewing it for season 4 even before the long-promised third season has gone into production (via The Wrap). As for a timeline for the show’s return, it’s been reported that seasons 3 and 4 will film back-to-back beginning in spring 2020, which would mean season 3 might premiere sometime later that same year. Both seasons will run for 8 episodes.
Confirmation that season 3 of Atlanta will begin production in 2020 ends the suspense about when Glover and company might actually get back to work on the show, after a long period with no news about the series while Glover pursued other projects. There is however still some suspense about whether the show will actually return to Atlanta to film, as many in the film and TV industries have abandoned Georgia in the wake of the state’s controversial abortion bill. Given how integral the city of Atlanta is to the show, it would be hard for the series to simply pick up and leave, though such a move could always be written into the story if need be.
It remains to be seen what new and interesting courses Glover will chart for Atlanta seasons 3 and 4, but given the series’ prior track record of pushing boundaries in terms of story and themes, it’s certain that the show will go on confounding expectations. What the future might hold for the show beyond season 4 is anyone’s guess, but given Glover’s loaded schedule and seemingly restless nature, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him end the show after the next two seasons are completed.
More: What to Expect From Atlanta Season 3
Source: The Wrap
