The romance drama at Briar University is already heading into major changes before Season 2 even begins. While fans expected more twists after the emotional love triangle in Season 1 of ‘Off Campus‘, the latest update confirms that one important character will not return for the next chapter.
Showrunner Louisa Levy has now revealed that Justin Kohl’s journey is taking a pause, and the reason behind his absence could completely change the energy of the upcoming season.
Justin Kohl Will Not Return In ‘Off Campus’ Season 2
Prime Video’s adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s ‘Off Campus‘ book series built plenty of drama in Season 1 through the complicated feelings between Hannah Wells, Justin Kohl, and Garrett Graham. Although Hannah initially connected with music student Justin Kohl, the story eventually led her toward hockey star Garrett Graham, closing out the central love triangle.
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Now, that storyline appears to be officially over. During a recent interview with TV Guide, showrunner Louisa Levy confirmed that Josh Heuston will not return as Justin in Season 2. However, she also made it clear that the door has not fully closed on the character’s future in the franchise.
“Not next season, but I love Josh, and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point,” Levy said. “We never got a chance to meet Stella, who is the person he ends up with in the book. So maybe we’ll find a way to fold him into a future season. We don’t have him [available] next season, but never say never.”
The absence reportedly comes down to Josh Heuston’s scheduling conflict, but Justin’s departure still marks a major cast shake-up ahead of the show’s second season. Since Justin played such a big role in Hannah’s emotional journey during the first installment, his exit will likely leave a noticeable gap as the story moves forward.
Season 2 Is Changing More Than Just The Cast
Justin’s departure is not the only major change coming to ‘Off Campus‘. Season 2 will reportedly look very different from the first season, especially when it comes to the main romance at the center of the story.
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Although Prime Video has not released an official plot synopsis yet, the first eight episodes have already hinted that Hannah’s friend Allie Hayes and Garrett’s teammate Dean Di Laurentis will become the next featured couple. That setup pushes the adaptation into very different territory compared to Elle Kennedy’s original book order.
In the novels, the second installment, ‘The Mistake‘, focuses on Grace Ivers and John Logan. However, the television adaptation appears to be skipping ahead and using elements from the third book, ‘The Score‘, instead. That creative decision changes the direction of the series for longtime readers while also creating fresh surprises for viewers who already know the source material.
Louisa Levy explained that the decision came from a desire to maintain momentum for the television format. “It was always in an effort to keep the momentum going,” she shared. “Happily ever afters are wonderful and so important for this genre of novel, but they’re not that helpful for television because we have to keep telling stories.”
With Justin sidelined, a brand-new couple taking the spotlight, and the adaptation already rewriting the order of the books, ‘Off Campus‘ Season 2 is clearly preparing for a major reset. And who knows when Justin Kohl might skate back into the drama sometime in the future.
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