FX Doubles Down on 'Adults': Season 3 Order Is Twice the Size

FX has renewed the ensemble comedy "Adults" for a third season — and doubled the order. Season 3 will run 16 episodes, twice the eight episodes the show aired in each of its first two seasons, Variety has learned. Creators Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw have also signed a new overall deal with FX Productions.

The renewal follows a strong second season. Per FX, Season 2 viewership was up 60% over Season 1 on Hulu and Disney+ globally through its first five weeks, while international viewership doubled. FX did not release specific viewing figures — a gap worth noting when a network touts percentage growth without absolute numbers.

What does the renewal change for the show?

More episodes, for one thing. The doubled order signals FX's willingness to invest in a comedy that launched only in 2025 and has already spawned a standalone special, "Marathon Day," released in July 2026 ahead of the Season 2 debut. The new overall deal also ties Kronengold and Shaw to FX Productions beyond the series itself.

"We started working with FX over six years ago, back when Paul Baker was but a twinkle in all of our eyes," Kronengold and Shaw said, referring to the character played by Jack Innanen. "In the years since, John [Landgraf] and the rest of the team have taught us everything we know about how to lead, produce, and tell stories that make people feel like part of a community. They've become family, and we're so glad to make it official — and to start yelling at them like we do our parents."

Nick Grad, president of FX Entertainment, framed the renewal as an easy call. "Ben and Rebecca have elevated 'Adults' in every way, earning critical praise and a legion of devoted fans who have embraced the friend group as their own," Grad said. "'Adults' showed significant growth in its sophomore year and we've seen the show inspire everything from memes to Halloween costumes, so the decision was easy – more episodes and a new deal at FX for Ben and Rebecca!"

Who makes 'Adults'?

The series stars Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao and Owen Thiele. Per the official logline, it is "about a group of twenty-somethings in New York leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship and family. Samir (Elassal), Billie (Freyer), Paul Baker (Innanen), Issa (Rao) and Anton (Thiele) are five friends crashing together in Samir's childhood home."

Kronengold and Shaw created the show and serve as showrunners and executive producers. Nick Kroll, Sarah Naftalis, Jonathan Krisel, Alicia Van Couvering and Rob Rosell also executive produce. FX Productions is the studio.

Critics have stayed with it. The show holds an 88% critical approval rating across both seasons on Rotten Tomatoes. In her Variety review of Season 2, Alison Herman wrote: "'Adults' finally has its own momentum, largely generated by a cast whose rapport obviates the need for any sweeping statements about their generation."

The doubled episode count and the creators' new deal set up Season 3 as the test of whether "Adults" can hold its momentum at greater length.