If there’s one thing that we know Netflix can deliver on, it’s a stellar dark comedy. Remember Dead to Me? That’s why fans have been gripped by the latest series to land on the streaming giant, which offers up an eclectic and hilarious look at one woman’s pursuit to find the American Dream—only, with some seriously outrageous hurdles along the way.
On Becoming A God In Central Florida, created and executive produced by Funke and Lutsky stars Kirsten Dunst as Krystal Stubbs, a minimum-wage water park employee who lies, schemes and cons her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise (FAM)—the cultish, flag-waving, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme that drove her to ruin in the first place, run by the powerful Obie Garbeau II (Ted Levine, The Silence of the Lambs).
The 10-episode series, which originally aired on YouTube, also stars Théodore Pellerin, Mel Rodriguez and Beth Ditto, and has quickly been praised by fans worldwide for its darkly satirical look at the world of pyramid schemes.
Intrigued? Read on for everything we know about a (potential) second season of On Becoming A God In Central Florida.
What Is On Becoming A God In Central Florida About?
On Becoming A God In Central Florida follows Krystal Stubbs (Dunst), a minimum-wage water park employee who “lies, schemes and cons her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise (FAM)—the cultish, flag-waving, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme that drove her to ruin in the first place, run by the powerful Obie Garbeau II.” With the mission to create a new life for herself, Krystal became entangled with the FAM and its most loyal follower Cody, until her business with the group begins to affect those she loves most.
Interestingly, while the series is definitely fictional the show’s creator Matt Lutsky told Popsugar that some of its central themes are “based on a lot of true ideas, true stories. It’s very fictionalised, but it’s very much in the world of the kind of big-business, ’90s multilevel marketing home goods commerce.”
But while it isn’t based on one particular true story, the comedy series does draw much of its inspiration from the reality of pyramid schemes, says Esta Spalding, the series showrunner.
“These kinds of schemes are all about people being asked to monetise their relationships,” she said at the Television Critics Association press tour. “What’s heartbreaking is not only the debt and the loss… The losses become familial as well.”
Will There Be A Second Season Of On Becoming A God In Central Florida?
Unfortunately, it’s bad news for fans of Dunst’s dark comedy. While the series was originally renewed for a second season in 2019, the network later confirmed the renewal decision had been reversed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last year, Showtime renewed On Becoming A God In Central Florida but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we were unable to move forward with production on the new season,” the network said in a statement to Deadline. “The pandemic has continued to challenge schedules across the board, and although we have made every effort to reunite the cast and crew for a second season, that has become untenable. It is with great regret that we are acknowledging On Becoming a God will not return.”
Originally, Dunst had shared her excitement over the series potential second season and even shared hopes her character would become more “villainous.”
“I mean, of course, she becomes an anti-hero,” the actress told Gold Derby. “I think that that’s definitely the trajectory we go on. After the second season, I think that definitely she will become what she hates and I think it’s going to be so fun to play. I think she’s going to become really power-hungry and really insane.”
While On Becoming A God In Central Florida won’t be returning, you can stream the entire first season on Netflix Australia.
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