Lauren Ambrose was a fan of Yellowjackets and wanted to be on the show. When planning for season 2, the writers considered who could play adult Van, a character who was a fan favorite in season 1.
Although there were discussions about whether Van would survive season 1, Liv Hewson’s portrayal of the character convinced the writers to keep her.
Co-showrunner Jonathan Lisco praised Hewson’s performance, noting that she was able to convey both seriousness and humor in the role.
After deciding that Van would survive into adulthood, the writers thought of Lauren Ambrose for the role. The adult version of Van is someone who has processed her experience in a healthier way than the other women, but is not completely together.
Ambrose believes that all the characters are stuck in the trauma, and that the experience of being stranded in the woods was defining for them. Van and Taissa fell in love during that time, and their relationship will play a significant role in the show.
The nature of Van’s relationship with adult Taissa is uncertain, but there is a lot of history between them that will be explored. Yellowjackets will premiere on March 24 and air on Showtime on March 26.
