With the past two decades of TV primarily dedicated to difficult male anti-heroes, “Physical” is the kind of show that’s flipping the script. The dark comedy series set around the 1980s fitness explosion earned plaudits from critics for its empathetic focus on female insecurities. Now, Apple TV+ has dropped the trailer for a sophomore season, promising a precipitous rise for its newly empowered protagonist.
Rose Byrne will reprise her leading role as Sheila Rubin, a troubled San Diego housewife-turned-aerobics instructor extraordinaire. Byrne most recently played an Elvis impersonator(!) in the indie drama “Seriously Red,” which premiered at SXSW earlier this year.
Here’s the upcoming season’s official synopsis:
“Physical Season two finds our hero Sheila Rubin having successfully launched her first fitness video only to encounter some new and bigger obstacles on her path. She is torn between loyalty to her husband and the values he represents and a dangerous attraction to someone else. And since she’s no longer the only game in town, she finds herself having to outrun some fierce new competitors on the road to building a full-fledged fitness empire.”
Returning cast members include Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel, Della Saba, Lou Taylor Pucci, and Paul Sparks. The featured addition is Murray Bartlett as weight-loss guru and infomercial impresario “Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Green.” Bartlett previously won a Critics’ Choice Award for his work on “The White Lotus.”
The second season was again written primarily by series creator and showrunner Annie Weisman, whose former credits include “Desperate Housewives,” “Suburgatory,” and “About a Boy.” Director Stephanie Laing, who helmed the bulk of season one, will direct multiple episodes.
The “Physical” season two premiere will hit Apple TV+ on Friday, June 3.