From its perfectly executed enemies-to-lovers premise to its endearing cast and off-the-charts on-screen chemistry, Maxton Hall became an overnight sensation when it premiered on Amazon Prime in 2024. The German-language teen drama—based on Mona Kasten’s bestselling book trilogy—is now Prime Video’s most-watched international series of all time, and it’s since sparked a passionate global fandom. So if you’re counting down the days until Season 2’s release, you’re in luck!
Here, we gathered up a variety of Maxton Hall behind-the-scenes (BTS) photos and juicy tidbits from the cast—including what Harriet Herbig-Matten, who plays Ruby, really thought when she first met her co-star Damien Hardung, who portrays the arrogant James. Plus, find out what to expect from Season 2, see never-before-seen video clips (scroll ‘till the end for this!) and more!
Keep reading for a front-row preview of Maxton Hall Season 2!
What to expect in ‘Maxton Hall’ Season 2
Amazon MGM Studios
According to Prime Video, here is the official logline for Maxton Hall Season 2: “Those who fly high can also fall low… After their passionate night together in Oxford and her greatest life goal within reach, everything seems to be going perfectly for Ruby. But a stroke of fate in James’ family changes everything and James himself, of all people, brings her back from cloud nine to a harsh reality. Ruby is devastated. She has never had such strong feelings for anyone as she does for James – and she has never been so hurt by anyone either. She wants her old life back, where no one at Maxton Hall knew her and she wasn’t part of the elitist world of her classmates. But she can’t forget James – especially since he’s doing everything he can to win her back.”
Will they or won’t they?
The reason fans can’t get enough of Maxton Hall? Ruby Bell and James Beaufort’s crackling on-screen chemistry. In Season 1, the characters first meet at school—and their enemies-to-lovers sparks were palpable. Here, this BTS photo captures them looking at one another with their signature glares. Interestingly, life imitated art when Harriet Herbig-Matten (Ruby) and Damien Hardung (James) met for the first time in real life. “We didn’t like each other that much at first sight,” Herbig-Matten said while smiling in a video interview. “That slowly changed at the second casting though. The collaboration between us was very intense.”
A ‘rollercoaster of emotions’
The push and pull between Ruby and James was heartwrenching throughout Season 1. Herbig-Matten even shared how both she and Hardung had difficulties filming when it came to the tougher scenes. “I think we both had our problems keeping up with the emotions because it was a rollercoaster,” she said.
Fans have a lot more high-stakes moments like this to look forward to in Season 2. An Amazon spokesperson also offered a BTS Season 2 update to Deadline: “We want to offer fans around the globe the best Maxton Hall experience. We’re intensely working on a first-class production and music composition for the series, including comprehensive language versions. We promise the wait will be worth it.”
Lights, camera, drama!
Out of all the characters, James is one of the most complex. Between facing impossible expectations from his family, trying to find his own path forward and grappling with very unexpected—but very real—feelings for his fiery classmate Ruby, he had a lot on his plate in Season 1. This BTS photo captures James—in the gray and fuchsia Maxton Hall uniform—during a contemplative moment at school.
Stunning settings and familiar faces
There are many reasons Maxton Hall became an overnight sensation —and one of them is certainly the gorgeous settings! Much of the on-screen drama happens at the posh prep school named Maxton Hall (shown in the BTS photo here), which is full of beautiful mahogany hallways and light-filled classrooms. In this photo, Ruby is seen with her bestie Lin Wang (Andrea Guo) and their other friend Kieran Rutherford (Frederic Balonier). Ruby, Lin and Kieran are very involved in the school’s event committee—and in Season 1 we learn Kieran has a not-so-secret crush on Ruby. Too bad her sights are set elsewhere…
All smiles off-screen!
Well, at least it’s not all drama all the time! We’re happy to see Herbig-Matten and Hardung carefree and smiling in this candid off-screen set photo. In another real-life moment, Herbig-Matten opened up about her experience starring on Maxton Hall and how she was surprised at its immense success. “It doesn’t feel real,” she recently said in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment. “I personally work a lot with my emotional world. Experiences that I can give to my character. And then you build up a character, like where she’s coming from and [her] relationships between other characters,” she continued. “I was really interested in [depicting] a love story with all these emotions and intensity.”
Never-before-seen video moments and Season 2 BTS action!
In the video above, you’ll see various scenes and sets from Maxton Hall’s Season 2, never-before-seen moments between James and Ruby and other fan-favorite characters, familiar faces reuniting and more! “Maxton Hall is always a great experience,” Herbig-Mattern said in the teaser. “It’s like coming home.”
The first season of Maxton Hall is available to stream right now on Amazon Prime Video.