Prime Video’s Off Campus is heading into a very different second season, and according to creator Louisa Levy, the biggest changes won’t simply revolve around the departure of one major character. While fans have already been processing the news that Josh Heuston’s Justin won’t be returning in the upcoming installment, Levy has now revealed that the show’s musical identity will also evolve as the story shifts its focus to new characters and relationships.

Speaking during Prime Video’s Obsessed Fest on June 27, Levy offered the clearest look yet at what audiences can expect when Off Campus returns. Although music has been one of the defining features of the series since its debut, she explained that the next chapter naturally requires a different creative approach.

“There’s going to be less live songs,” Levy revealed. “Because we don’t have all of Hannah’s songwriting journey to play into.”

The comment immediately caught fans’ attention.

Season 1 intertwined Hannah Wells’ passion for songwriting with many of the show’s emotional moments, allowing original performances and live musical sequences to become an extension of her character development. Music wasn’t simply background noise—it was part of the storytelling itself.

As Hannah’s journey evolves, however, so too does the way music functions within the series.

Rather than centering every emotional breakthrough around a performance, season 2 will apparently lean more heavily on its soundtrack and score to create atmosphere.

Levy emphasized that although audiences will notice fewer performances on screen, music remains an essential ingredient of the show’s identity.

“We don’t have Josh and After Hours this season so we don’t have those bands,” she continued.

“But we still have a lot of music in other ways. We will still have some light music in the show.”

The absence of After Hours represents another significant change.

The fictional band became an important part of the first season’s campus atmosphere, adding authenticity to Briar University’s vibrant student culture while also supporting Justin’s storyline.

Without Justin, there is less narrative reason to feature live concerts and band rehearsals that previously helped shape the show’s rhythm.

Instead, Levy believes the emotional heart of Off Campus can continue thriving through carefully selected songs accompanying pivotal scenes.

“I still think the heart of the show lives in those needle drops and those songs that underscore a moment — as well as the actual score,” she explained.

That statement suggests viewers shouldn’t expect the series to abandon music altogether.

Rather, it will become more cinematic in the way it uses songs to heighten emotion instead of placing performances directly into the narrative.

The creative adjustment makes sense given where the adaptation now finds itself.

Based on Elle Kennedy’s bestselling Off-Campus novels, the Prime Video series follows the lives of Briar University’s elite hockey players and the women whose relationships reshape their futures.

 

While romance remains the central focus, the show also explores friendship, ambition, heartbreak and the complicated transition into adulthood.

The official synopsis describes the series as following an elite hockey team and the women around them as they navigate love, self-discovery and the lasting bonds formed during college.

Season 1 primarily adapted the romance between Hannah Wells and hockey captain Garrett Graham.

Ella Bright’s portrayal of Hannah established her as both a talented songwriter and an emotionally guarded young woman whose music reflected her personal growth.

Opposite Belmont Cameli’s Garrett, Hannah gradually learned to trust herself and embrace a relationship she never expected.

The season also introduced a larger ensemble featuring Mika Abdalla, Antonio Cipriano, Jalen Thomas Brooks and Stephen Kalyn, creating multiple interconnected storylines beyond the central romance.

One of those involved Josh Heuston’s Justin.

Although Justin never became Hannah’s ultimate love interest, he quickly earned his own fan following.

His combination of confidence, vulnerability and musical talent made him one of the show’s standout supporting characters.

Many viewers hoped season 2 would further explore his story.

Instead, earlier this year Levy confirmed that Justin would not appear in the upcoming season.

Speaking previously about the decision, the showrunner made it clear that the departure was driven by scheduling circumstances rather than creative dissatisfaction.

“Not next season, but I love Josh and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point,” she explained.

Importantly, Levy emphasized that Justin’s story remains unfinished.

She even pointed toward one notable omission from the television adaptation that could eventually provide an opportunity for his return.

“We never got a chance to meet Stella, who is the person he ends up with in the book,” Levy noted.

“So maybe we’ll find a way to fold him into a future season.”

For readers of Elle Kennedy’s novels, that comment immediately sparked speculation.

Although the television series has never attempted a page-for-page adaptation, it has continued drawing inspiration from major character arcs within the books.

Introducing Stella in a future season could offer a natural pathway for Justin to re-enter the story if scheduling eventually allows.

Levy admitted that his absence had never been the original creative plan.

“We don’t have him available next season, but never say never,” she said.

That optimistic outlook has been echoed by Heuston himself.

Speaking about Justin’s future, the actor made it clear he would happily revisit the character should the opportunity arise.

“That’s above my pay grade,” Heuston joked when discussing a possible return.

“But I just hope Justin finds love and continues to be happy while writing music.”

The actor believes Justin’s optimistic personality will ultimately help him move forward despite romantic disappointment.

“Justin is following his heart. He’s a little lover boy at heart,” Heuston explained.

“I think things went the way that they went but I think he’ll just continue to do that.”

According to the actor, Justin would likely respond to heartbreak in the only way he knows how.

“He’ll probably go write some nice music about how heartbroken he is and then come back and try to find his love.”

That perspective perfectly captures why Justin resonated with audiences.

Rather than portraying him as merely another attractive musician competing for Hannah’s attention, Heuston deliberately searched for greater emotional depth.

“I just tried to give Justin as much as possible,” he explained.

He worried the character could easily have become a familiar stereotype.

“A lot of the time if you fell into a stereotype of another cool guy that does music on campus, you wouldn’t have that love or affinity for him.”

Instead, his priority became making Justin feel authentic.

“My main thing was just trying to make him as good as possible.”

That effort clearly paid off.

Although Justin ultimately lost Hannah to Garrett, many viewers appreciated his maturity and emotional honesty throughout the season.

Rather than becoming a villain within the love triangle, he emerged as someone audiences genuinely wanted to see find happiness.

His absence therefore creates both a challenge and an opportunity for season 2.

Without Justin and After Hours, the show inevitably loses one of its musical centerpieces.

At the same time, the adaptation gains room to explore other characters more deeply.

Because Elle Kennedy’s book series spans multiple interconnected romances, future seasons naturally shift attention toward different couples while allowing familiar faces to remain part of the wider Briar University community.

That evolving structure distinguishes Off Campus from many traditional romance series.

Instead of endlessly repeating one central relationship, each installment broadens the emotional landscape by introducing fresh protagonists while maintaining the friendships that connect them all.

Music may also evolve alongside those changing perspectives.

Season 1 reflected Hannah’s identity through songwriting.

Future seasons could find entirely different artistic expressions depending on which characters step into the spotlight.

Levy’s comments suggest the soundtrack will remain emotionally significant even if live performances become less frequent.

Sometimes a carefully chosen song playing beneath a quiet conversation can carry just as much emotional weight as a concert scene.

For fans, the biggest takeaway is reassurance.

While season 2 will undeniably look and sound different, its emotional foundation remains intact.

Love, friendship, vulnerability and personal growth continue defining the series.

Those themes have always mattered more than any single character or storyline.

Justin’s departure may leave a noticeable gap, but the creative team has already made clear that the door remains open for his eventual return.

Until then, viewers can expect Off Campus to continue adapting Elle Kennedy’s beloved world while discovering new ways to tell its stories.

The music may be quieter this time around, but according to Levy, the emotional notes that have made the series resonate with audiences will still be playing loud and clear.