Based on a series of graphic novels by writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, Locke & Key follows siblings Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode Locke as they move into their father's ancestral estate, named Keyhouse, after his murder. (Get it?) The house, located in Lovecraft, Massachusetts, is full of hidden keys that unlock various portals, all of which give the children different powers — as well as some less fun stuff with which they must deal.
The comics were first published in 2008, and an adaptation to the small screen has been in the works almost as long. A Locke & Key pilot was made for Fox in the 2010 to 2011 development season — with the support of acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg, no less — but didn't make it to series. Universal then tried to turn Locke & Key into a feature film, but that didn't pan out either. In April 2017, Hulu ordered an hour-long pilot written by Hill. However, nearly a year later, the streaming service announced it wouldn't be taking the show to series, leaving room for Netflix to swoop in.
On January 8, 2020, fans finally got their first look inside the television version of Keyhouse when Netflix dropped the trailer for Locke & Key.
The trailer mostly sticks to hinting at the story — although if you've read the comics, you'll obviously have more insight into what's going on. A family of three children moves into their murdered father's isolated ancestral home, where they discover keys hidden throughout that unlock various portals with supernatural consequences. They also accidentally wake up a formerly dormant force and other shadowy demon-esque beings who want the keys for themselves.
This first look at Locke & Key also makes it clear that the series has many tropes in common with certain other trending horrors and thrillers. Kids running the show and getting themselves into trouble: check. A creepy, slowed-down nursery rhyme playing in the background: check. A majestic, isolated house: check. The past catching up to everyone: check. Geo-specific magical portals: check.
This is possibly no coincidence, though. Locke & Key creator Joe Hill isn't just a best-selling horror author in his own right — he's the son of horror legend Stephen King, whose work has seen a resurgence recently through films like the Pet Sematary remake and the It duology. Positioning the Locke & Key adaptation so clearly in this legacy means the show is likely to find an audience — but whether it sacrifices the interests of those who came from the comics in the name of mass appeal is another question.
The actress portraying Bode's older sister Kinsey might also be familiar. Emilia Jones played Joanna in the 2016 Western thriller Brimstone, had a background role in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and was one of an impressive ensemble cast of British actors in Horrible Histories: The Movie — Rotten Romans. Like pretty much every British actor, she's appeared on an episode of Doctor Who, specifically "The Rings of Akhaten" on the seventh season of the reboot.
The rest of the main Locke & Key cast has also popped up on a few well-known series. Canadian-born actor Connor Jessup, who plays third Locke sibling Tyler, appeared on two seasons of the anthology series American Crime and had a major role on five seasons of the sci-fi series Falling Skies. Bill Heck plays the trio's father, and you might know him from either The Alienist, on which he played murderer John Beechum, or from the fifth episode of the Cohen brothers' Western anthology series The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
It’s been 20 months since Locke & Key’s first season premiered on Netflix, but out actor Connor Jessup is excited for viewers to see how things have changed for the eponymous family at the center of this fantasy adaptation.
“Season 2 is a lot darker than season 1,” Jessup teases, comparing the narrative progression to another well-loved literary series: Harry Potter. What does this mean for Jessup’s Tyler, the eldest Locke sibling?
“In season 1, Tyler was not doing great because he carried around a lot of guilt regarding his father’s death,” Jessup says. “But he was able to work through that. In season 2, he’s able to have a bit more fun with his new girlfriend.” Viewers familiar with Locke & Key will remember Tyler’s crush on his new friend Jackie. If any queer viewer is disappointed that Jessup’s character Tyler isn’t queer like Jessup, then the feeling isn’t lost on the Canadian actor. “It’s been a while since I’ve played a queer character,” Jessup says. When looking at the connection between the characters he’s played and his own identity, Jessup only notices those connections in retrospect.
“I can draw lines between who I’ve played and who I’ve become but never in the moment. For instance, I played openly gay characters before I came out,” he says. Jessup received critical attention for his role as the closeted Taylor Blaine in the second season of ABC’s American Crime series.
“People ask if it was weird playing a queer character when I wasn’t out yet, but it wasn’t,” he notes. “I compartmentalized a lot of those experiences at the time, and luckily I don’t have to as much nowadays compared to when I played those characters years ago.”
Regarding who he would most love to portray, he shares, “I would love to play a character like Marianne.” Jessup is referring to the hired companion and portrait painter played by Noémie Merlant in Celine Sciamma’s 2019 film Portrait of a Lady on Fire. “I’d love to play such an active and present character living in the moment and observing it in such a way.”
Be careful with the keys that you find at the Key House. The Locke family has officially moved in and things aren't what they seem in their new home thanks to all the secrets that are hidden within its walls. As Kinsey, Bode, and Tyler continue to find the keys and the special power that they each hold, they soon figure out that they're linked to something even bigger than they could have ever imagined. But, with a sinister villain out to get the keys for her secret plan, things aren't going to be easy for them
We can expect to see season 2 hit the streaming platform on Friday, October 22. When production was still underway, but the cast got together to announce that the series will officially be back on our screens this fall. They also shared some brand new images that show us some new keys, some big surprises, and Dodge doing whatever it takes to make their plan work. Check it all out below:
The second season of the Netflix series Locke & Key continues the adventures of the Locke family and their supernaturally-forged keys. At the conclusion of the first season, we saw Ellie (Sherri Saum) trapped in the void after having her appearance changed to look like Dodge (Laysla De Oliveira) via the Identity key, while the real Dodge made her escape. Keeping her cover, she resumes her disguise as Gabe (Griffin Gluck) continuing to infiltrate the Lockes particularly as a love interest for Kinsey (Emilia Jones). The second season picks up almost immediately after the events of the first as the family maintains control of most of the keys while Gabe/Dodge continues to scheme.
The strength of the series based on the comics by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez is its core cast of Lockes: Jones, Connor Jessup's Tyler, Darby Stanchfield's Nina, and Jackson Robert Scott's Bode. I didn't feel really the characters evolved beyond their first season molds, with the plot conveniently falling into place depending on what key said character had at the time. De Oliveira doesn't seem to be involved as much this season as much of Dodge's role still remains as Gabe, but showrunners work her in where it counts (translation: the climactic season two finale). We do see Aaron Ashmore's Duncan Locke have more of an expanded role than previously and much like his brother Shawn Ashmore's role in The Boys, they give him a similar guilt-ridden regret. Hallea Jones' Eden Hawkins looked like she had a lot more "fun" in a more devilish role similar to Peyton List's Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai given what happened to Eden at the conclusion of the first season.
While it's easy to rest on the laurels of what made the first season, the stakes were definitely raised. There was also a greater sense of urgency and loss, even when moments felt predictable because the strength of the ensemble and the writing made it work. There are a few gripes like it would've been nice if they did more with the flashbacks beyond what was being foreshadowed for the third season. I would've also liked to see more exposition of Dodge beyond her nefarious plans that doesn't feel like a page from the script to Robert Rodriguez's The Faculty. Locke & Key was not only renewed for a third season and but has already wrapped filming on it. With that in mind, I hope that expanding beyond what we were presented with at the end of the second season doesn't tamper with what could've been a satisfying conclusion. Let's hope Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, and Aron Eli Coleite don't wear out the series welcome next season.
Gear up for your next Halloween marathon watch with Netflix’s Locke & Key. The show, based on the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel RodrÃguez, is back for a second season. And unlike the titular Locke family, you don’t need a litany of keys to figure out its mysteries.
After several false starts, including a failed pilot, Locke & Key was successfully adapted by Netflix and streamed in 2020. Despite an uneven start, the show picked up pace and ended with a twist that surprised everyone—even the readers of the graphic novels. The show has already been renewed for a third season, even before the 10 episodes of Season 2 have aired.
Now that the series is back for another round, let’s take a look back at who the characters are and what we can look forward to in the upcoming season.
The main characters of Locke & Key are the Locke family. Connor Jessup stars as the oldest Locke sibling, Tyler, along with Emilia Jones as Kinsey, Jackson Robert Scott as Bode and Darby Stanchfield as their mother Nina. Griffin Gluck and Laysla De Oliveira will star as Gabe and Dodge. Aaron Ashmore and Hallea Jones have both been promoted to series regulars and will return to play Uncle Duncan Locke and Kinsey’s frenemy Eden, respectively.
Among the supporting cast, Petrice Jones, Asha Bromfield, and Jesse Camacho return as the Locke siblings’ friends Scot Cavendish, Zadie Wells and Doug Brazelle. Bill Heck will appear as Rendell Locke, Coby Bird reprises his role as neighbor Rufus Whedon, and Thomas Mitchell Barnett will be back as Sam Lesser.
Brendan Hines will be a new series regular, playing Josh Bennett, while Liyuo Abere will guest star as Jamie Bennett. Leishe Meyboom has been added to the cast, but there’s no information on who her character Abby is. As seen in the trailer, Kevin Durand is a new member of the cast, as well. He’s credited as playing a character called Frederick Gideon who appears to be a soldier in the 18th century storyline.
As of now, it doesn’t look like Sherri Saum will reprise her role as Ellie Whedon, the Locke’s neighbour and Rufus’ adoptive mother. Genevieve Kang’s return as Tyler’s girlfriend Jackie Veda also seems unlikely.
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