Christina Ricci on losing several core Season 3 ‘Yellowjackets’ cast members
Christina Ricci had a rough go this time around with “Yellowjackets” — but mainly because of all the goodbyes.
Warning: Spoilers below!
Season 3 was an absolute bloodbath, with creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson deciding to axe off several main cast members in violent and horrific ways both in the wilderness and the present-day time sequence.
While fans found it easy to digest newcomers frog scientist Edwin (Nelson Franklin), who died by axe, and Kody (Joel McHale), whose demise was a knife in the eye by Hanna (Ashley Sutton), longtime viewers had a difficult time seeing the mercy killing of Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger), teen Mari (Alexa Barajas), adult Lottie (Simone Kessell), and adult Van (Lauren Ambrose).
The ruthless killings took a toll on the cast, too.
The Post caught up with Ricci at the “Yellowjackets” finale event in North Hollywood, California, on Thursday, April 10, and she shared how difficult it was to see her co-stars and real-life friends go.
When asked which character’s death was the hardest on her this dark and heavy season, the Emmy-nominated star couldn’t choose; however, she did pay tribute to the fellow “Yellowjackets” that made it home after the plane crash and a certain someone they left in the woods.
“Well, you know, I think that I got close to Lauren (adult Van), so it was difficult to know that she was leaving us,” Ricci exclusively told The Post.
The actress also gave a nod to adult Natalie, played by Juliette Lewis, who died in the finale of Season 2 after Ricci’s character, adult Misty, accidentally stabbed her with a needle.
“It was very difficult when Juliet left, and difficult when Simone (adult Lottie) left. I mean, they’re all really difficult,” Ricci continued. Simone’s character met her fate after she was pushed down the stairs by an unlikely killer.
Like many of her co-stars and “Yellowjackets” fans, Coach Scott’s expiration was also rough on her. He died in Season 3’s Episode 6 when teen Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) fatally stabs him in a mercy killing after the team turns on him.
“And to know Stephen was leaving was also. Stephen’s such an awesome, awesome, awesome guy, and such an amazing actor, and I would say that was really tough,” she shared.
The Post also spoke to newcomer Hilary Swank at the finale event.
The Oscar winner joined the Season 3 cast as adult Melissa, appearing in only the final few episodes.
Swank’s character was believed to be dead by her former teammates until adult Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) discovers she’s alive and tries to kill her for good.
In the plot twist of the century, Swank’s character takes adult Van’s life by stabbing her in the heart and leaving her bleeding out to be discovered by her longtime lover, adult Tai (Tawny Cypress).
Van had already been dying of terminal cancer, but her murder was just as shocking to Swank.
While walking the red carpet, the actress told The Post, “It was even a surprise” to her, adding she was informed about the death scene the week before shooting it.
“I actually didn’t know until I got the script because, in television, that’s how it is. You don’t really know until about ten days before you film what you’re going to be doing,” Swank said, adding that she found the turnover time challenging but doable.
“Yellowjackets,” which was first released in 2021, chronicles a teenage soccer team in the ’90s whose plane goes down in the Canadian wilderness.
While spending months and over a year stuck in the woods, the teammates begin eating each other and doing what they can to stay alive.
The psychological thriller jumps back and forth from the ’90s to the present day, following the few who made it out alive and are living their adult lives.
The show is loosely based on a real-life aircraft crash, the creators revealed.
In 1972, the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, carrying five crew members and 40 passengers, including the Uruguayan amateur rugby team, went down in the Andes mountains. Twelve people died in the crash, and the others survived 72 days in the wilderness by eating their dead friends’ corpses.
