The survival show fever hasn't broken. If you spent any part of 2023 screaming at your screen because your "one pick" was hovering at rank 10, you know exactly why the phrase Boys Planet Season 2 is currently haunting every K-pop forum from Reddit to X. Mnet has a formula. They find a way to make us care deeply about 98 trainees, then they break our hearts, and finally, they debut a group like ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) that absolutely dominates the charts.
Is it happening? Honestly, the short answer is yes, but it’s not as straightforward as a simple name change.
Mnet recently shook the table by announcing Planet B. If you’ve been looking for Boys Planet Season 2, this is basically it under a different coat of paint. It’s a prequel-style recruitment phase meant to feed into the next big "Planet" installment. They aren't just looking for talented kids anymore; they're looking for the next Zhang Hao or Sung Han-bin who can pull in global votes before the first episode even airs.
The Pivot from Boys Planet to Planet B
We have to look at how Mnet operates to understand why they aren’t just calling it Boys Planet Season 2 right out of the gate. Traditionally, these shows rotate genders—Girls Planet 999 led to Kep1er, and Boys Planet led to ZB1. However, the success of the "Boys" branding was so massive that Mnet is leaning back into the male trainee market faster than expected.
Planet B is the working title for the scouting program. Think of it as the rigorous audition process that will eventually culminate in the broadcast of what most fans will colloquially call Boys Planet Season 2.
The "B" likely stands for "Begin" or "Boys," but it signals a shift in how they source talent. In previous years, they relied heavily on established agencies like Jellyfish, WakeOne, or Yuehua. This time, they are casting a much wider net for independent trainees who aren't tied down by existing contracts. They want raw potential they can mold into a global brand without the legal headaches of multi-agency profit-sharing—well, at least as much as possible.
Why the Branding Change Matters
K-pop fans are protective. If Mnet just slapped a "2" on the end of the previous show name, it might feel like they're trying to replace ZB1 while the group is still active and thriving. By calling the lead-up Planet B, they create a separate identity. It’s smart marketing. It builds a bridge between the existing fanbase and the new crop of hopefuls without making the current "Planet" group feel like yesterday's news.
What We Know About the Schedule and Casting
The timeline is always the biggest mystery. Historically, these shows have a long lead time. The recruitment for Planet B started in late 2024, aiming for a production cycle that hits screens in 2025 or early 2026.
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If you're wondering about the age limits, they’ve stayed fairly consistent. They are looking for males born before 2011. That is a wild thought—seeing 14-year-olds on these shows is still a polarizing topic among international fans who worry about the pressures of the industry on minors. But for Mnet, that younger demographic represents longevity.
- Recruitment: Global auditions across Korea, Japan, China, and the US.
- Filming: Expected to ramp up once the initial "Planet B" selection is finalized.
- Broadcast: Likely a late-year premiere or a "New Year" launch to capture the winter audience.
The stakes are higher now. Boys Planet Season 2 has to follow up on a show that saw over 9 million votes cast in its finale. That’s a lot of pressure on a bunch of teenagers and twenty-somethings.
The "Global" Factor: Will the 50/50 Split Return?
One of the most controversial yet effective parts of the first season was the split between K-Group (Koreans) and G-Group (Global). It created an "us vs. them" narrative that, while stressful, kept the engagement numbers through the roof.
Will they do it again for Boys Planet Season 2?
Probably. It’s a proven drama-generator. But expect some tweaks. After the success of Zhang Hao—the first non-Korean to ever take the P01 spot in an Mnet survival show—the "Global" group isn't seen as the underdog anymore. They are the powerhouse. This changes the entire psychology of the competition.
Expect to see more trainees from Southeast Asia and South America this time around. K-pop's footprint in Brazil and the Philippines has exploded, and Mnet knows that a trainee from those regions is a guaranteed ticket to millions of social media mentions.
Addressing the "Rigging" Trauma
You can't talk about an Mnet survival show without mentioning the elephant in the room: the Produce 101 scandal. Even though Boys Planet Season 2 will likely use external auditors like Samil PwC to verify votes (just like the first season did), skepticism remains.
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The fan-base is hyper-vigilant now. They track every edit. They "receipt" every second of screentime. If a trainee gets a "villain edit," the fans are much faster to call out the production team than they were five years ago. This tension between the producers and the viewers is actually part of what makes the show successful. It's a meta-narrative. We aren't just watching a show; we're fighting against the "evil editors."
Honestly, that struggle is half the fun.
Survival Show Fatigue: Is It Real?
People keep saying we have too many survival shows. I-LAND 2, Universe Ticket, Build Up, Make Mate 1—the list is exhausting. You’d think the audience would be burnt out.
Yet, the numbers don't lie. Boys Planet Season 2 is expected to perform because "male version" shows almost always out-earn their female counterparts in terms of physical album sales and concert revenue. The fandoms are just more dedicated—or maybe just more willing to spend money on multiple versions of a CD.
The "Planet" franchise has successfully replaced the "Produce" brand. It has the same DNA but feels "cleaner" to the general public. It’s a fresh start that still delivers the high-stakes drama we crave.
The Impact on the K-pop Economy
When a show like this succeeds, it doesn't just benefit the final nine members. It creates a secondary market. Think about groups like EVNNE or TIOT. These are "derivative" groups made of trainees who didn't make the final cut on Boys Planet.
Boys Planet Season 2 will essentially provide the talent for the next three years of the mid-tier K-pop market. Even the losers win. They get the "Planet" rub, a ready-made fanbase, and a chance to debut in a group that already has 100k followers on Instagram before their first teaser drops.
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How to Prepare for the Next Season
If you’re planning on following Boys Planet Season 2 (or whatever Planet B eventually evolves into), you need a strategy. Don't just watch the episodes.
The real show happens on the apps. Whether it's Mnet Plus or whatever new platform they roll out, the "meta-game" of voting is where the power lies.
Watch for the "Hero" Edit early. Usually, in the first two episodes, the producers will highlight three or four trainees with "struggle" stories. These are the ones they want in the final group. If you see a trainee getting a lot of "reaction" shots while others are performing, they’ve already been shortlisted by the editors.
Keep an eye on the "Signal Song." The center of the signal song has a nearly 100% track record of making the final group. It’s the most important audition of their lives, and it usually happens before we even know their names.
Monitor the "Independent" Trainees. These are the wildcards. Without a big agency backing them, they rely entirely on fan support. They often have the most authentic personalities because they haven't been "PR-trained" to death by a corporate giant.
The road to the next global boy group starts with these small hints and leaked audition clips. It’s messy, it’s emotional, and it’s arguably the most effective way to launch a career in modern music. Whether you love the drama or just want to hear some good pop songs, the next "Planet" installment is going to be unavoidable.
Keep your eyes on the official Mnet social channels for the final transition from Planet B to the full-scale production. The auditions are wrapping up, the trainees are being sequestered, and the next wave of K-pop icons is already in the building.
Next Steps for Fans and Observers:
- Audit your voting apps: Ensure your Mnet Plus account is active and verified, as they often purge inactive accounts before a new season to prevent botting.
- Follow independent scout accounts: Look for "trainee trackers" on social media who identify participants in Planet B before the official profiles are released.
- Research the "pre-show" content: Mnet often releases short clips or "eye contact" challenges weeks before the premiere. These are crucial for gauging a trainee’s natural charisma without the benefit of a high-budget stage.
- Set realistic expectations: Remember that the "global" vote usually carries different weight than the "Korean" vote. Understanding the weighting system (often 50/50) is key to predicting who will actually make the final lineup versus who is just popular internationally.