Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder’s Ava Daniels are getting another spin in the spotlight, asHackshas officially been renewed for a fifth season atMax(soon to be HBO Max again). The critically acclaimed dark comedy series with 98% on Rotten Tomatoes is set to air its Season 4 finale on May 29, and now fans can rest easy knowing that the story will continue beyond the potential cliffhanger that the tenth and final episode will leave them on — with a new season likely to arrive in 2026, if the current release schedule is anything to go by.
Hacksfollows the rollercoaster professional relationship between Vance, a veteran stand-up comedian, and Daniels, a down-on-her-luck comedy writer who works for her. The fourth season, which debuted on Max on Apr. 10, tossed the odd-couple pairing into another messy situation, picking up afterthe shock events of Season 3when Daniels blackmailed her boss into hiring her as head writer on her late-night talk show. The duo stepped into an all-new battleground, bringing another round of conflicts, crises, and chaos for audiences to enjoy.
‘Hacks’ Season 4 Is as Brassy & Brilliant as Ever
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are at their finest this season, which tracks comedy legend Deborah Vance’s foray into late-night.
In addition to Smart and Einbinder’s leading ladies,Hacksstars several key players who could potentially return to reprise their roles in the fifth season, including Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Megan Statler, Paul W. Downs, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Helen Hunt, and Dan Bucatinsky. Season 4 alsoadded some newcomersinto the mix, such as Michaela Watkins, Robby Hoffman, Bresha Webb, Julianne Nicholson, and Eric Balfour, so a few special guest stars and comedic cameos will likely factor into the roster.
“Yes! More! We congratulateHacks’singularly talented cast and crew and our great partners at Universal Television,” Max’s head of original programming Sarah Aubrey said in a statement celebrating the fifth season renewal announcement. Universal TV president Erin Underhill added, “Like Deborah Vance herself,Hacksonly gets bolder, sharper, and more iconic with time. We’re beyond thrilled to keep the laughter rolling with Jen [Statsky], Paul [W. Downs], Lucia [Aniello], our extraordinary cast and crew, and our partners at Max.”
‘Hacks’ Has Racked Up Views and Rave Reviews
Hackshas been a real crowd-pleaser, with increasing viewership and consistent acclaim throughout its run. The series has an overall critics' rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 84%. Each season individually has received positive reviews, with the first two seasons earning 100% scores on the Tomatometer. The show has garnered praise for its excellent writing, relatable themes, and standout performances by its cast, with many –including MovieWeb– hailing it as “one of the best modern comedies of all time.”
The fourth season ofHackshas been a Top 5 series on Max ever since its debut in the U.S. and a Top 10 hit globally. It is on track to be the show’s best season yet, with each episode of Season 4 seeing an increase in audience numbers and performing better than the last. Positive reviews have likely played a part in more people tuning in, but recognition during awards seasons may have also caught some people’s attention. It has racked up 48 Emmy nominations in total, including a Season 3 win for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Given its popularity and success, it’s not surprising thatHacksgot renewed for a fifth season, but it could be the last. The show’s creators have been very clear about their five-season plan, with Paul W. Downs telling The Hollywood Reporter last year that they have “always had a clear vision of what the tentpoles of each season would be” and “pitched the very last scene in the very last episode,” to which Lucia Aniello asserted that the lifespan of the show is “five seasons,” so fans might only have one more season before the final curtain closes.
Sources:Warner Bros. Discovery,The Hollywood Reporter
