Into the Wilderness: Exclusive Yellowjackets Season 3 Panel at SXSW
Co-creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson joined co-showrunner Jonathan Lisco and executive producer Drew Comins discuss Yellowjackets season 3 at SXSW on March 7, 2025.
Photo By: Natalia Torres
Yellowjackets Spoilers for season 3
The Wilderness has provided, as creators of Showtime’s Yellowjackets took us on a deep dive into the gripping storytelling and psychological horror of season 3 on Friday, March 7, at SXSW.
Our favorite cult-like cannibals are back in this exclusive panel as co-creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson joined co-showrunner Jonathan Lisco and executive producer Drew Comins to dive into the psychology thriller of the year. The series switches between the past and present as Yellowjackets tells a story of survival and gruesomeness through the eyes of teenage girls. The Yellowjackets soccer team crashes deep into the wilderness, where they must battle hunger and uncover dangerous secrets to survive. In the present, the survivors—now adults—struggle to move forward as the past continues to haunt them. The panel included exclusive clips along with an inside look at the most recently aired episode and teasers of what's ahead for our Yellowjackets.
Yellowjackets season 3 poster presented at SXSW on March 7, 2025.
Photo By: Natalia Torres
During the panel, the creators and producers shared exciting insights about some of our favorite girls, with Nickerson particularly highlighting teen Natalie’s (Sophie Thatcher) storyline. Nickerson explores Nat’s development, particularly her rise as the new Antler Queen and the heightened significance of her story following the death of her adult counterpart in the present.
“Going into this season, there was a bit of a question about how different the story would feel knowing about the demise of the adult character (Natalie),” Nickerson said. “In my mind, it made the emotional threat to the character more present.” Nickerson shared that he found it exciting to watch Thatcher’s performance unfold, highlighting her ability to bring both agility and deep emotion to various moments throughout the season.
For Lyle, Coach Scott’s (Steven Krueger) character and performance were standout elements. She recalled Krueger’s reaction after filming the “bear spray” scene in Yellowjackets, when he stepped onto the stage covered in muck and sarcastically said, “Thanks a lot.” She praised his work this season, emphasizing that he truly knocked it out of the park. Given that his character is surrounded by a group of increasingly unhinged teenage girls, she found his performance especially impressive.
As the producers dived deeper into the storylines, they also delved more into some surprising dynamics this season, particularly Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) and Melissa’s(Jenna Burgess) romantic relationship. Lyle provided an attentive and detailed explanation of the stark differences between Jackie (Ella Purnell) and Shauna’s relationship compared to Shauna’s dynamic with Melissa, making for an intriguing comparison.
Lyle and Comins talk to fans after the panel at SXSW on March 7, 2025.
Photo By: Natalia Torres
They explained that going into the beginning of season one, Jackie and Shauna’s relationship was meant to be central to Shauna's character, highlighting how tense friendships—like theirs—are marked by blurred lines between love and rivalry. They also emphasized how Shauna was ready to step into the role of the main character in her own life, marking a significant shift in her journey.
“Shauna had found herself, for her entire life until that point, playing the moon to Jackie’s sun,” Lyle said. “We talked a lot about going into season two and three of what would replace that relationship. It felt as though, having Shauna going through the loss of her child and Jackie, we thought subverting that, Shauna was ready to be the sun to somebody else’s moon.”
Lyle explained that Melissa was a perfect fit for the role, noting that the character was written as a blank slate so far, allowing viewers to discover her through Shauna’s perspective. She found it particularly exciting to see how the character evolves, especially as Shauna takes an incredibly dark turn with Melissa by her side.
Overall, it was a unique and incredible experience to hear the creators and producers share insights about the filming process, while also taking time to appreciate the hardworking cast and crew. It was truly special to see how much care and effort go into making the show, particularly behind the scenes. This show, especially this season, truly captures what "hell" means for a teenage girl. Yellowjackets Season 3 is now streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan.
