“Common Side Effects” Season 2 premieres on Adult Swim on January 24, 2027, at 11pm ET/PT. New episodes are available the next day on HBO Max. The announcement was made Friday at New York Comic Con by series co-creators Joe Bennett and Steve Hely.
The animated thriller premiered last February and quickly became a critical darling. The first season of “Common Side Effects” won a Peabody Award and four Annie Awards and was also nominated for an Emmy Award and an Independent Spirit.
The series follows Marshall (voiced by Dave King), an expert on fungi who discovers a mushroom capable of curing any disease. Although Marshall wants to use his discovery to help the world, he quickly comes up against the DEA, the US government and a big pharmaceutical group that will do anything to stop the Blue Angel from getting into the hands of everyday people.
Season 2 follows Marshall and Frances (voiced by Emily Pendergast), Marshall’s former lab partner and sponsor, as the two refugees try to stay one step ahead of the many forces trying to stop them from sharing this panacea with the world.
In addition to King and Pendergast, “Common Side Effects” stars Martha Kelly, Joseph Lee Anderson and Mike Judge. Judge and Greg Daniels, both known for their work on “King of the Hill,” will also executive produce the series. Bennett was behind the Emmy Award-winning series “Scavengers Reign” in 2024, and Hely is known for his work on “Veep,” “30 Rock” and “The Office.”
“At Adult Swim, we always put our faith not only in talented creators who are driven to push animation into new territory, but also in a fan base that we know will embrace and embrace the new without hesitation,” network president Michael Ouweleen said in a statement. “The second season of ‘Common Side Effects’ continues to make new things possible not only for this series, but for adult animation as a whole.”
“We remain committed to asking important questions, capturing the absurdities of life, telling extraordinary stories and, when possible, advancing our long-term mission to heal humanity through the mysterious mushroom,” said Bennett and Hely. “So if you are one of humanity’s ills, know this: your days are numbered.”
“Common Side Effects” is produced for Adult Swim by Bandera and Green Street Pictures.
