When people search “Lazarus season 2”, they usually mean one of two shows:

• Lazarus (anime) – a sci‑fi action series directed by Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe, animated by MAPPA, and airing on Adult Swim’s Toonami block.
• Harlan Coben’s Lazarus – a British crime thriller on Prime Video starring Sam Claflin.

This article focuses on Watanabe’s Lazarus anime, sometimes called “Lazarus (2025)” or “Lazarus MAPPA” in listings.

Set in 2052, Lazarus takes place three years after genius neuroscientist Dr. Skinner created Hapuna, a “miracle” drug that eliminates illness and gives users a near‑perfect life—until he suddenly disappears and reemerges with a chilling warning: everyone who took Hapuna will die, and he claims there is no antidote. In response, world leaders assemble a global task force called Lazarus to hunt Skinner down and stop the impending mass extinction.

The series combines:

• Watanabe’s trademark stylish direction and musical flair.
• High‑octane action sequences animated by MAPPA and choreographed by John Wick director Chad Stahelski.
• A thriller storyline about biotech, corporate power, and the cost of “perfect” medicine.

Lazarus season 1: release, episodes, and reception

Release schedule and platforms

Lazarus season 1 debuted in April 2025 as part of Adult Swim’s Toonami lineup.

Key details:

• U.S. premiere: April 5, 2025 at midnight on Adult Swim’s Toonami (English dub).
• Streaming: Episodes available on Max the following day, with encore English‑dub airings on Thursdays.
• Japanese‑audio version: English‑subtitled Japanese audio episodes released on Adult Swim and Max 30 days after each English premiere.
• Japan: Broadcast on TV Tokyo and related channels starting April 2025.
• UK: Available via Channel 4’s on‑demand service, with new episodes dropping weekly.

According to GamesRadar’s schedule, Lazarus runs for 13 episodes, from April 6 through June 29, 2025, with episode 13 airing at midnight on Adult Swim and streaming on Max the same day.

Critical and audience response

Despite some polarized viewer reactions, Lazarus has been a strong performer on both streaming charts and review aggregators.

• CBR notes that Lazarus keeps popping up in Top‑10 lists across multiple platforms, including Max’s top chart for dozens of countries and Netflix Japan’s top 10.
• On Rotten Tomatoes, Lazarus season 1 holds a 92% critic score based on 25 reviews, with an average rating around 7.4/10.
• Audience scores are more mixed, with a roughly 60% “Popcornmeter” score, reflecting a split between viewers who love the style and those less sold on the storytelling choices.

This pattern—critically acclaimed, visually stunning, but somewhat divisive—is typical for Watanabe’s more experimental projects and plays directly into the debate over whether we’ll see Lazarus season 2.

Has Lazarus season 2 been confirmed?

As of now, Lazarus season 2 is neither canceled nor renewed.

• RadioTimes plainly states that a second season “has not yet been confirmed” by Watanabe, MAPPA, Sola Entertainment, or Adult Swim.
• SuperHeroHype echoes this, describing Lazarus season 2 as “neither canceled nor renewed”, and emphasizing that fans are still waiting on an official decision.
• TheAnimeGuy’s detailed breakdown from April 2025 also notes that there was “zero official word” on a second season while season 1 was still airing.

In other words: there is no official green‑light for Lazarus season 2 yet, and any specific date or episode count you see online is speculative.

Watanabe’s tease: “their story is far from over”

Despite the lack of formal renewal, fans got a major boost of hope after the season 1 finale. In a two‑hour livestream discussion on the Storyriders channel, Shinichirō Watanabe was asked about the possibility of a second season.

His response (via translated quotes widely shared in news articles) was:

“Since there are still many problems left in the world, the team will continue to be active. Their story is far from over. By the way, a sequel is possible.”

This matters for three reasons:

1. Watanabe is famously known for keeping most of his shows self‑contained, and he rarely returns for multi‑season stories, so hearing him say a sequel is possible is a notable break from his usual stance.
2. The finale, titled “The World is Yours,” wraps up the Hapuna crisis in a way that could be read as an ending, but also leaves the world and characters open for more threats.
3. Multiple outlets, including ComicBook.com and CBR, highlight this quote as a strong signal that Lazarus season 2 is creatively on the table if business conditions line up.

So while there is no official Lazarus season 2 order, the director’s own words confirm that he’s interested in continuing the story.

Lazarus season 2 release date: realistic predictions

Because Lazarus season 2 hasn’t been announced, there is no firm release date. However, several informed estimates give a sense of what’s realistic.

• SuperHeroHype suggests that, if Lazarus is renewed, fans can likely expect season 2 “sometime in mid or late 2026”, though it stresses this is speculative and the actual timing depends on when production begins.
• A YouTube breakdown focused on the “Lazarus Season 2 release date & current situation” argues that, given MAPPA’s overloaded pipeline and zero public production updates, 2027 is a more realistic earliest window if a renewal decision comes late.
• RadioTimes also notes that Watanabe does not typically rush sequels and that a second season would take significant time to plan and animate.

Considering MAPPA’s other major commitments (franchises like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and film projects), a one‑to‑two‑year gap between Lazarus seasons would be normal even under ideal circumstances.

The bottom line:

• Best‑case scenario: Lazarus season 2 arrives in late 2026.
• More cautious estimate: Lazarus season 2 lands sometime in 2027 or later.

Until an official announcement, all dates remain educated guesses.

What could Lazarus season 2 be about?

Season 1 tells a complete arc about the Hapuna drug and Dr. Skinner’s plan, but it still leaves the world and characters in a place where new stories make sense. Watanabe’s own comment that there are “many problems left in the world” hints at a broader universe beyond the initial catastrophe.

A potential Lazarus season 2 could logically explore:

1. The aftermath of Hapuna

Even if the immediate Hapuna crisis is resolved, the political and social consequences would be enormous. Season 2 could dive into:

• Public backlash against pharmaceutical corporations.
• Governments weaponizing or secretly preserving Hapuna‑like tech.
• “Copycat” labs trying to recreate the drug, creating new bio‑terror threats.

The Lazarus team, originally assembled to stop one genius scientist, might now find themselves acting as global troubleshooters for any dangerous biotech emerging in Hapuna’s wake.

2. New bio‑terror threats and rival organizations

Season 1 implies that Hapuna is just one of many bleeding‑edge medical technologies in this future. A second season could pit Lazarus against:

• Rogue states or corporations trying to engineer “upgraded” humans.
• Underground clinics selling dangerous body modifications.
• A new mastermind who sees Hapuna as a prototype rather than an end point.

This fits Watanabe’s interest in morally gray worlds where the line between hero and villain is often blurred.

3. Deeper character arcs for the Lazarus team

Like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, Lazarus is built around a core team whose backstories are only partially revealed in season 1. Lazarus season 2 could:

• Explore more of each agent’s past and why they joined the team.
• Test their loyalties if mission objectives clash with personal morals.
• Introduce new members who shake up the team dynamic.

Given Watanabe’s track record, a sequel would likely balance big sci‑fi set pieces with intimate, character‑driven episodes that flesh out the squad.

Will ratings and buzz be enough for Lazarus season 2?

Renewal decisions are ultimately business calls. The good news is that Lazarus has strong indicators in its favor:

• CBR reports that Lazarus appears consistently in top‑10 streaming charts across Max, Netflix Japan, and other platforms, even with divisive user reactions.
• Rotten Tomatoes lists a 92% critic approval rating for season 1, signaling that reviewers generally love Watanabe’s latest gamble.
• Toonami‑focused communities and Nielsen snapshots show there is audience curiosity about how well Lazarus is performing in its late‑night slot, which will feed into renewal talks.

On the other hand, industry pieces like SuperHeroHype and RadioTimes caution that Watanabe often prefers concise, one‑season projects, and that even strong reception doesn’t guarantee he or MAPPA will want to stretch Lazarus into a long franchise.

For now, Lazarus season 2 sits in a “wait and see” zone: performance is promising, the creator is open to a sequel, but no one has pulled the trigger publicly.

Where to watch Lazarus while you wait for season 2

If you’re planning content around “how to watch Lazarus” or just want to get ready in case season 2 happens, here’s where the anime is currently available:

• Adult Swim (Toonami): English‑dubbed episodes air Saturdays at midnight, with encore airings on Thursdays.
• Max (HBO Max): Episodes stream the day after their Adult Swim premiere; both English dub and, 30 days later, Japanese‑audio with subtitles are available.
• Japan: Lazarus broadcasts on TV Tokyo, with associated streaming arrangements for the Japanese market.
• UK: The series streams via Channel 4’s on‑demand platform, with weekly episode drops.

ComicBook.com notes that Adult Swim treats Lazarus as a major Toonami original, positioning it as a kind of spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop, which gives it a strong brand push in the West.

FAQ – Lazarus Season 2 (Anime)

Is Lazarus season 2 confirmed?
No. As of 2026, Lazarus season 2 has not been officially renewed or canceled. Adult Swim, MAPPA, and Sola Entertainment have released no formal announcement about more episodes.

Did Shinichirō Watanabe say there will be a season 2?
He didn’t confirm a season, but he did say that the team’s story is “far from over” and that “a sequel is possible,” signaling that he’s open to continuing Lazarus if circumstances allow.

When could Lazarus season 2 come out?
There is no official release date. Guides and analysts estimate that, if renewed, Lazarus season 2 would likely land sometime in mid‑to‑late 2026 or in 2027, due to MAPPA’s workload and the time needed for high‑quality production.

How many episodes does Lazarus season 1 have?
Season 1 has 13 episodes, airing weekly on Adult Swim and TV Tokyo, with the finale scheduled for June 29, 2025.

Is Lazarus anime related to Harlan Coben’s Lazarus on Prime Video?
No. The anime is a sci‑fi series from Shinichirō Watanabe and MAPPA, while Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is a live‑action crime thriller on Prime Video; both currently have only one season and no confirmed season 2.

Where can I watch Lazarus now?
Lazarus streams on Max (HBO Max) and airs on Adult Swim’s Toonami in the U.S., on TV Tokyo in Japan, and via Channel 4 on demand in the UK, with different combinations of English dub and Japanese‑audio with subs.