‘Bad Monkey’ Season 2: Vince Vaughn Provides Filming Update!!

Vince Vaughn just dropped an update on the future of his new Apple TV+ series, Bad Monkey. Vaughn’s new comedy debuted near the end of last summer to strong reviews, earning a 93% from critics and an 80% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it took Apple TV+ two months after the Season 1 finale to renew the series for Season 2. The show comes from writer/creator Bill Lawrence, who’s also known for his work on Scrubs and, more recently, Ted Lasso. During a recent interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub to promote his new Netflix movie, Nonnas, Vaughn revealed when Bad Monkey Season 2 begins filming, and also how much of the second season has been outlined thus far:

“We will start filming this year. I think they have the outline for the first four episodes. I don’t want to give away too much because we kind of left it in a great place to see where a lot of different things go, but I think that what Bill has as far as what’s going on is super, super fun and interesting, and a really great next step for the characters.”

Vaughn also spoke to Weintraub about part of the series being filmed in California. This has become less common in recent years, as many shows opt to film in other places, but both agreed that more projects need to return to their roots and film on the West Coast. Bad Monkey is set in Florida, and while part of the show was shot in Florida, large portions of Season 2 will be shot in California. Vaughn dished on the pros of filming shows in California, which include being close to his kids:

“Well, Florida is such an iconic part of that story that we’re still going to shoot the exteriors and a lot of that stuff in Florida, where it takes place, but a lot of the interiors and stuff we’re going to be able to do in California. Bill [Lawrence], who runs the show, lives there, we both have kids, and it’s true what you’re saying.”

Vaughn spoke to Weintraub about one of his older movies, Made, which was released in 2001 and sees him star alongside Jon Favreau and Famke Janssen. The movie was filmed in California, which was something to be proud of at the time: “I remember when we made the movie Made, we shot in LA and New York, and we put an American flag on the movie at the end, saying, ‘This was shot in the United States.’ We were wanting to shoot in these places in our backyard, and you’re right, it’s a strange time where you live in California.” Vaughn also praised the crews that work on film sets in California. While there hasn’t been as much work for California-based groups lately, shooting a movie on the West Coast still allows stars to work with the best of the best:

“There was a time we would go and make things there, and now, it happens less and less. So, it’s terrific to be able to shoot because, as you know, these movies and these TV shows are really only as good as all of the technicians that work on the movie and all these departments, and there’s some unbelievable crews in California and people that are tremendous at what they do. So, it’s nice to be able to shoot there.”

Weintraub closed out his conversation with Vaughn by asking if it was true that filming in California allowed for more potential guest stars, considering so many actors who live there could stop by the set and not even have to leave their hometown: “That’s true. That’s definitely true. It’s an art form that was unique to that area that is not being done as often. That’s hard to see. Of my age, and growing up there, it was in the water. It’s what we did. So, it’s definitely nice to be able to be there and to work.”

What Is Next for Vince Vaughn?

Bad Monkey’s Vince Vaughn will next be seen in Nonnas, the Netflix original comedy coming to the platform on May 9. He’s also attached to star alongside James Marsden and Eiza Gonzáles in Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, the upcoming buddy action comedy from BenDavid Grabinski set in the underworld of criminals. Vaughn will also star in a sequel to Dodgeball that’s reportedly in development, and he’ll feature opposite Adrien Brody in The Bookie & The Bruiser from S. Craig Zahler.