“Maxton Hall”'s Damian Hardung Says Season 2 Cliffhanger That Left Everything 'Destroyed' Almost Didn't Happen

Julia Moore, Lily BrownWed, July 1, 2026 at 4:29 PM UTC

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Harriet Herbig-Matten and Damian Hardung in 'Maxton Hall'; Damian Hardung on June 27, 2026Credit: Gordon Muehle/Prime Video; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty -

Maxton Hall star Damian Hardung spoke about the show's emotional season 2 cliffhanger at Prime Video's Obsessed Fest in L.A.

He also teased when season 3 will premiere on Prime Video

Hardung previously told PEOPLE that he struggled while filming season 2, and while it was a "privilege" as an actor, he was "really happy to not have to do that season again"

Maxton Hall's second season ended in chaos — so much so that its creators wondered whether they were leaving fans with too much mess.

The hit German series, which is based on Mona Kasten's bestselling Save Me trilogy, follows the enemies-to-lovers story of high school students James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) and Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten). In the season 2 finale, Ruby was expelled from school after James' jealous ex, Elaine (Eli Riccardi), claimed she was having an affair with a teacher, who was also fired.

James' world also descended into chaos when his mother's will was read and revealed that she left her fortune to her husband, Mortimer (Fedja van Huêt), dooming any hope of James and Lydia's (Sonja Weißer) freedom.

At Prime Video's Obsessed Fest in L.A. on Saturday, June 27, Hardung, 27, revealed that the season almost had a different ending.

"They wanted to change that ending in the beginning because it was too much," he said. "They were like, 'We can't let them have everything be destroyed.'"

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Damian Hardung as James in 'Maxton Hall' season 3Credit: Boris Laewen/Prime Video

He said the cast ultimately wanted to keep the cliffhanger as is. "We were like, 'No, we really want to have a cliffhanger that really hurts because it stays true to the second season.' The first one was so nice, and then we're going to have the second season exploring those archetypes."

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The intensity of season 2, he said, "sets us up to have [James and Ruby] really reconciling [in the] third season."

Hardung also confirmed during the panel that season 3, the final installment of the hit series, will premiere later this year. "I've just got notice that season 3, the final season of Maxton Hall, will finally air in December this year," he told fans.

He teased that fans will see "more" of James "trying to find ways to immerse himself in a life that is true to him, instead of the life his family always expected of him," in the next batch of episodes.

Harriet Herbig-Matten as Ruby in 'Maxton Hall' season 3Credit: Boris Laewen/Prime Video

Hardung told PEOPLE ahead of the season 2 finale last fall that he "wouldn't want to [film season 2] again." The season saw James reeling from his mother's death and "going through the different stages of grief."

"I mean, I think we kind of knew, reading the first draft of the script of the second season, that it was going to be much bleaker, but also more honest in a way and more grown up in a way," he said. "I just feel truly privileged that they gave us the time to really dive into that, as an actor. As a person, I'm really happy to not have to do that season again."

"I told them, I can't do more tears. I have no more tears," he added. "I won't be doing that again."

Seasons 1 and 2 of Maxton Hall are now streaming on Prime Video, and season 3 premieres in December.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”