Fans of Off Campus can expect plenty of changes when the Prime Video romance returns for its second season, but one familiar face will officially be missing from the next chapter. According to showrunner Louisa Levy, Justin Kohl will not be returning in Season 2, marking one of the first major cast shake-ups since the adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s bestselling novels premiered.

The sports romance series has quickly developed a devoted audience by combining college relationships, emotional drama and hockey-centered storylines at the fictional Briar University. Like the original book series, each season is designed to spotlight a different romantic pairing while allowing previous characters to remain part of the larger ensemble.

That format means viewers naturally expected to continue seeing Josh Heuston’s Justin, even after the conclusion of the first season’s central love triangle.

Instead, Levy has confirmed that audiences should not expect Justin to appear when the new episodes arrive.

During a recent interview, the showrunner explained that Justin’s absence is largely the result of scheduling rather than creative decisions. Josh Heuston has other commitments that prevent him from participating in the upcoming season, forcing the writers to continue the story without one of Season 1’s most recognizable supporting characters.

However, Levy made it equally clear that the character has not been permanently written out of the series.

She spoke warmly about working with Heuston and emphasized that she would happily bring Justin back if circumstances eventually allow. Rather than closing the door on his future, she suggested that the writers may find another opportunity to reintroduce him in a later season.

That possibility becomes even more interesting because the television adaptation has yet to introduce Stella, the woman Justin ultimately ends up with in Elle Kennedy’s novels.

Since viewers never had the opportunity to watch that relationship develop on screen, the series still has a substantial portion of Justin’s story left unexplored.

If scheduling issues are resolved in future years, the writers could revisit his character and adapt that romance at a later stage.

For now, though, Season 2 will move forward without him.

Justin’s departure is only one part of a much larger transformation awaiting the series.

Unlike many romance dramas that follow the same central couple throughout multiple seasons, Off Campus was always designed as an anthology-style adaptation.

Each installment shifts focus toward a different relationship while maintaining continuity within the shared college setting.

Season 1 primarily followed Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham as their friendship gradually evolved into romance after Hannah initially developed feelings for music student Justin Kohl.

By the finale, Hannah and Garrett had officially become the show’s central couple, bringing their emotional journey to a satisfying conclusion while leaving room for future stories involving the wider Briar University community.

That conclusion naturally raises questions about how much attention Hannah and Garrett will receive moving forward.

According to Levy, fans shouldn’t worry about the pair disappearing entirely.

One of her primary goals is allowing successful couples to remain happy while simultaneously introducing fresh romantic storylines for other characters.

Finding that balance, however, presents one of television’s biggest storytelling challenges.

Unlike standalone novels, television series must continue generating conflict and emotional momentum season after season.

Once a couple reaches its happily-ever-after ending, constantly inventing new relationship problems can quickly become repetitive or undermine the emotional payoff audiences have already invested in.

Levy acknowledged exactly that dilemma when discussing the direction of Season 2.

She explained that while happily-ever-afters are essential to romance novels, they can become more complicated on television because writers must continue telling stories beyond the initial love story.

Her solution is to preserve Hannah and Garrett’s relationship while shifting the spotlight elsewhere.

Rather than manufacturing unnecessary drama between them, the series will allow another couple to become the emotional center of the new season.

That decision also brings one of the adaptation’s biggest departures from the source material.

Readers familiar with Elle Kennedy’s books expected Season 2 to adapt The Mistake, the second novel in the series.

That book focuses primarily on Grace Ivers and hockey player John Logan, making them the franchise’s next central romance.

Instead, Prime Video has chosen an entirely different path.

The television adaptation appears ready to skip directly to The Score, the third novel, placing Allie Hayes and Dean Di Laurentis at the heart of Season 2.

The groundwork for that decision was quietly established throughout the first season.

Allie, Hannah’s close friend, gradually emerged as one of the series’ most engaging supporting characters, while Dean consistently stood out among Garrett’s hockey teammates thanks to his charm and confidence.

Their growing chemistry hinted that the writers were already laying the foundation for a larger storyline.

For longtime readers, however, the change represents a significant surprise.

Adaptations frequently condense storylines or alter smaller plot details, but completely rearranging the order of an established book series is a much bolder creative choice.

Doing so changes not only which romance unfolds next but also how supporting characters develop over multiple seasons.

Some readers may welcome the unpredictability.

Others may wonder whether Logan and Grace’s story will eventually receive its own season or whether elements from their novel will instead be incorporated into different storylines later.

At this stage, Prime Video has not revealed exactly how it intends to handle those characters.

The absence of an official plot synopsis has only fueled additional speculation.

While the focus is expected to shift toward Allie and Dean, the exact conflicts that will shape their relationship remain unknown.

Fans of the novels already have some expectations based on The Score, but the adaptation has demonstrated a willingness to make substantial changes whenever it serves the broader television narrative.

That means even dedicated readers may find themselves surprised by what eventually unfolds.

Levy indicated that maintaining momentum across multiple seasons played a major role in every creative decision.

Rather than following the novels chapter by chapter, she wanted the television version to sustain audience investment from one season to the next while ensuring returning characters continued to feel relevant.

Leaving certain storylines unresolved allows viewers to remain emotionally connected to previous couples even after the spotlight shifts elsewhere.

It also creates opportunities for overlapping character arcs that weren’t necessarily possible in the original books.

This interconnected approach could ultimately become one of the adaptation’s defining strengths.

Instead of functioning as completely separate love stories, the television series has the chance to build an ongoing community at Briar University where relationships evolve simultaneously and characters continue influencing one another’s lives.

That format encourages viewers to remain invested in the entire ensemble rather than following only a single couple each season.

Even Justin’s temporary absence fits within that philosophy.

Because the character hasn’t been definitively written out, his eventual return could feel like a natural continuation rather than an unexpected revival.

Introducing Stella in a future season would also give longtime viewers a chance to experience another romance without requiring an entirely new character introduction.

Much will depend on Josh Heuston’s availability and the direction future seasons ultimately take.

For now, the immediate focus belongs to Allie and Dean.

Their relationship promises a different dynamic from Hannah and Garrett’s slower emotional journey, offering the opportunity to explore new personalities, new challenges and a fresh perspective on college romance within the familiar world of Briar University.

As Prime Video prepares to continue adapting Elle Kennedy’s beloved series, one thing has become increasingly clear: the television version is determined to chart its own course. Justin Kohl may be sitting out Season 2, but his story is not necessarily over, while the decision to reorder the novels demonstrates that audiences—whether longtime readers or newcomers—should expect the unexpected as Off Campus continues to evolve.