When Did Survival of the Thickest Film?
Season 1 of Survival of the Thickest filmed from September 26 to November 20, 2022, in New York City, premiering on Netflix on July 13, 2023. Season 2 production began in July 2024 and wrapped in late August 2024, with the season releasing on March 27, 2025.
Production Timeline for Both Seasons
The Netflix comedy-drama series followed a typical streaming production schedule, with filming taking place several months before each season’s release. This timing allowed for post-production work including editing, color grading, and visual effects.
Season 1 wrapped principal photography about eight months before its Netflix debut. The production team worked through fall 2022, taking advantage of New York City’s autumn weather for outdoor scenes. According to production reports, the eight-episode season required 56 filming days spread across nearly two months.
For Season 2, Netflix greenlit production in February 2024, with cameras rolling by mid-summer. The production maintained the same New York base while adding international locations. Filming lasted approximately 64 days, concluding on August 27, 2024. This gave the post-production team seven months to prepare the season for its March 2025 premiere.
Season 3, confirmed as the series finale, is scheduled to begin production on November 24, 2025, with filming expected to continue for 72 days through February 3, 2026.
Behind the Production Schedule
A24 Television produced the series with a budget between $2-3 million per episode. This mid-range budget allowed for location shooting throughout New York’s five boroughs, including Harlem, Brooklyn, and Manhattan’s fashion district. The production employed approximately 150 crew members per season.
Directors Linda Mendoza and Kim Nguyen helmed multiple episodes across both seasons. Mendoza directed the first two episodes of Season 1, establishing the visual style and tone that carried throughout the series.
Complete Cast and Character Breakdown
Michelle Buteau leads the ensemble as both creator and star, bringing her autobiographical memoir to life through the character of Mavis Beaumont.
Main Cast Members
Michelle Buteau as Mavis Beaumont: The 47-year-old New Jersey native plays a 38-year-old assistant stylist navigating life after a devastating breakup. Buteau’s previous work includes scene-stealing roles in “Someone Great” and “Always Be My Maybe,” along with hosting Netflix’s “The Circle.” This series marks her first leading television role and her debut as a showrunner.
Tone Bell as Khalil: Mavis’s best friend since high school, Khalil is a creative artist and instructor who values simplicity in life. Bell, known for his comedy work and roles in “Whitney” and “Disjointed,” brings both humor and emotional depth to the character. In 2023, he made his Broadway debut in the revival of “Camelot,” and currently stars in the Broadway production of “Othello” alongside Denzel Washington.
Tasha Smith as Marley: A self-made millionaire in her early 50s who gives Aries energy with a warm big sister vibe. Smith joined as a recurring character in Season 1 and was promoted to series regular for Season 2. She also directed two episodes of the second season. Smith is recognized for her work in “Why Did I Get Married?” and “Empire.”
Taylor Selé as Jacque: Mavis’s ex-boyfriend whose infidelity triggers the series’ events. The 41-year-old Liberian-born, Queens-raised actor is a former professional football player who transitioned to acting with roles in “Luke Cage,” “P-Valley,” and “BMF.”
Marouane Zotti as Luca: The Italian love interest who meets Mavis in Season 1. The 37-year-old Moroccan-Italian actor gained Western recognition through his role in Michaela Coel’s “I May Destroy You” and has appeared in Netflix’s “Bodkin” and Prime Video’s “Citadel: Diana.”
Supporting and Recurring Cast
Anissa Felix as India: A student in Khalil’s painting class who becomes his romantic interest. The 33-year-old stage actress made her Broadway debut in “Motown the Musical” in 2016 and originated a role in “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.”
Garcelle Beauvais as Natasha Karina: A legendary ’90s supermodel and Mavis’s high-maintenance client. Beauvais, 58, is a Haitian-American actress who broke out in “The Jamie Foxx Show” and became the first Black cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
Peppermint as herself: The drag performer plays a dramatized version of herself who performs at CC Bloom, Mavis’s favorite bar. She competed in Season 9 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and made history as the first trans woman to originate a principal role on Broadway in “Head Over Heels.”
Liza Treyger as Jade: Mavis’s quirky new roommate in Brooklyn. The comedian and actress had supporting roles in “The King of Staten Island” and Jordan Peele’s “Nope.”
Anthony Michael Lopez as Bruce: Natasha’s dedicated assistant. The queer, disabled actor rose to prominence with roles in “Broad City” and “New Amsterdam.”
Allan K. Washington as Trent: A recurring character throughout the series.
Michelle Visage: The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” judge appears as Avery in a guest role.
Season 2 Guest Stars
The second season expanded the cast with notable additions including Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee), Deon Cole, Tika Sumpter, Monét X Change, RonReaco Lee, Jonathan Chad Higginbotham, Jerrie Johnson, Alecsys Proctor-Turner, Rolonda Watts, Sandra Bernhard, and Bevy Smith.
From Page to Screen: The Creation Process
Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel co-created the series based on Buteau’s 2020 memoir “Survival of the Thickest: Essays.” Netflix announced the adaptation on January 24, 2022, with Sanchez-Witzel serving as showrunner under her multi-year Netflix deal.
Sanchez-Witzel brought extensive sitcom experience from developing “The Carmichael Show” and co-producing “New Girl.” This background helped shape the series’ blend of comedy and drama, creating what reviewers described as a fresh take on the single-woman-in-the-city narrative.
The writing room included contributors Grace Edwards, Ian Edwards, Emily Fightmaster, Solomon Georgio, Hillary Handelsman, and Julia Lindon. This diverse team brought varied perspectives that enriched the show’s exploration of body positivity, friendship, and career struggles in the fashion industry.
Filming Locations and Visual Identity
New York City serves as both setting and character in the series. The production team captured authentic New York moments throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Harlem.
Key filming locations included:
- 125th Street in Harlem, featured prominently in the opening sequences
- Various Brooklyn neighborhoods where Mavis searches for affordable housing
- Manhattan’s Garment District and fashion spaces
- CC Bloom, a fictional bar inspired by real New York nightlife venues
- Fashion studios and styling spaces throughout the city
Season 2 expanded beyond New York, with portions filmed in Italy when Mavis travels to Rome to reunite with Luca. These international sequences added visual variety while maintaining the show’s intimate, character-focused approach.
The cinematography emphasizes vibrant colors and fashion-forward aesthetics, reflecting Mavis’s work as a stylist. Costume designer selections showcase inclusive fashion, featuring designers who create for all body types.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
Season 1 premiered to positive reviews, earning an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 21 reviews with an average rating of 6.7/10. The series scored 7.5/10 on IMDb and received NAACP Awards nominations.
During its first week on Netflix, the show ranked fourth globally with 13.3 million viewing hours, equivalent to approximately 3.7 million completed views. The series remained in Netflix’s global top 10 for three weeks, though viewership declined by 42% in the third week.
Season 2 performed more modestly, garnering 22.4 million viewing hours according to Netflix’s engagement report covering January to June 2025. This ranked it as the 297th most popular series during that period, equivalent to 6.4 million views.
Despite the viewership drop, Netflix renewed the series for a third and final season in May 2025, allowing creators to conclude Mavis’s story on their own terms.
What Makes This Production Stand Out
The series represents Netflix’s growing partnership with A24 Television, joining other collaborations like “Beef” and “Mo.” This partnership brings A24’s distinctive indie sensibility to streaming television.
Buteau’s involvement as creator, executive producer, and star ensures authentic representation of her lived experiences. The show addresses themes often overlooked in mainstream comedy: navigating professional spaces as a plus-size Black woman, finding community outside traditional family structures, and redefining success on personal terms.
The production prioritized inclusive casting both in front of and behind the camera. The crew included diverse voices at all levels, creating what cast member Peppermint described as “not performatively inclusive, but really inclusive.”
Season 3 Production Plans
With filming scheduled to begin in November 2025, Season 3 will wrap the series in early 2026. The 72-day shooting schedule suggests eight episodes, maintaining consistency with previous seasons.
Buteau has indicated that the final season will provide closure for Mavis’s journey while staying true to the show’s themes of self-discovery and chosen family. The production will again film primarily in New York, bringing the series full circle to its Harlem roots.
A summer or fall 2026 release appears likely based on the production timeline, giving the post-production team adequate time to complete the final season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did it take to film Season 1?
Season 1 of Survival of the Thickest filmed for 56 days over approximately eight weeks, from September 26 to November 20, 2022. The production team worked in New York City, capturing scenes throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Harlem during the fall season.
Was the show filmed in Italy?
While Season 1 filmed exclusively in New York, Season 2 included filming in Italy for scenes where Mavis travels to Rome to be with Luca. The Italian sequences were shot after the primary New York production wrapped.
Who are the show’s creators?
Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel co-created the series. Buteau wrote the memoir that inspired the show and stars as Mavis, while Sanchez-Witzel serves as showrunner, bringing her experience from “The Carmichael Show” and “New Girl.”
How many episodes are in each season?
Both Seasons 1 and 2 contain eight episodes, each running approximately 28-30 minutes. Season 3 is expected to follow the same format.
The production journey of Survival of the Thickest demonstrates how personal storytelling can translate into compelling television. From its 2022 filming through its 2023 premiere and subsequent seasons, the series has carved out space for stories about body positivity, friendship, and reinvention. With Michelle Buteau’s authentic voice guiding both the creative vision and on-screen performance, the show offers a fresh perspective on familiar themes while maintaining the heart and humor that drew audiences to her original memoir.