Vince Vaughn is back. Not the "wedding crasher" Vince Vaughn from 2005, though that guy was great. We're talking about a version of him that feels lived-in, cynical, and surprisingly sharp. If you’ve been scrolling through Apple TV+ lately, you’ve probably seen his face plastered over a neon-drenched poster featuring a severed arm and a very unimpressed primate.
The vince vaughn new tv series Bad Monkey isn't just another streaming filler. It’s a full-on return to form for an actor who spent a few years wandering through the wilderness of gritty dramas and experimental roles. Honestly, it’s about time.
Working with Bill Lawrence—the guy who gave us Ted Lasso and Shrinking—Vaughn has found a character in Andrew Yancy that fits him like a well-worn linen shirt. Yancy is a former Miami detective who got demoted to "roach patrol" (health inspector) after a public meltdown involving a golf cart and his girlfriend's husband. He's fast-talking, he's obsessive, and he’s exactly the kind of chaotic energy we want in a Florida noir.
The Mystery Behind the vince vaughn new tv series
The premise is basically "Florida Man: The TV Show." A tourist hooks a severed human arm while fishing, and instead of letting the local cops handle it, Yancy decides to investigate. Why? Because he’s bored and he wants his old job back.
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But what most people get wrong about Bad Monkey is thinking it’s a standard police procedural. It’s not. It’s a satirical crime caper based on the Carl Hiaasen novel. If you know Hiaasen’s work, you know it’s less about "who done it" and more about "look at how weird these people are."
The cast is stacked. You’ve got Michelle Monaghan, Rob Delaney (playing a guy who is much darker than he looks), and Natalie Martinez as a medical examiner who is way too good for Yancy. Even with all that talent, Vaughn is the engine. His dialogue is a relentless stream of consciousness that somehow makes sense even when he’s talking to a monkey.
What’s Happening with Season 2?
Here is the thing: Season 1 wrapped up the original book perfectly. However, Apple TV+ has already greenlit a second season. Since we are now in early 2026, production is moving fast.
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Filming for Season 2 actually kicked off in Key West in February 2026. If you're wondering where the story goes next, it's a bit of a curveball. While Hiaasen wrote a sequel novel called Razor Girl, showrunner Bill Lawrence has hinted that they might be taking a detour into an original story first.
There's huge news on the casting front for the new episodes, too. John Malkovich has joined the cast as a series regular. Let that sink in. Vince Vaughn and John Malkovich trading insults in the Florida heat. It’s a pairing that sounds like a fever dream, but it’s actually happening.
Why You Should Actually Care
Streaming is crowded. There are too many shows. But this vince vaughn new tv series works because it doesn't take itself too seriously. It acknowledges the absurdity of its setting. Florida is a place where a "witch" known as the Dragon Queen can exert real power and where developers are more dangerous than drug lords.
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- The Vibe: Sunny, gritty, and hilarious.
- The Lead: Vaughn at his most "Vaughn-ish."
- The Twist: It’s actually a smart commentary on environmental destruction.
Basically, if you miss the era of movies like Get Shorty or The Nice Guys, this is the closest thing you’re going to get on the small screen right now.
What to Watch After Bad Monkey
If you've already binged the first season and you're waiting for the 2026 premiere of the new episodes, you’ve got options. Vaughn isn't slowing down. He’s also set to star in Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, an action-comedy that’s making waves at SXSW in March 2026.
But for the true Andrew Yancy fix, your best bet is to actually go back and read the Carl Hiaasen books. The show captures the spirit, but the prose has a level of "Florida weird" that’s hard to translate to film.
The vince vaughn new tv series has proven that Vaughn doesn't need to be the "funny guy" or the "tough guy"—he's best when he's both at the same time. The first season is currently streaming on Apple TV+, and if the rumors of a late 2026 release for Season 2 hold true, we won't have to wait much longer for more chaos in the Keys.
Your Next Steps:
- Catch up on Season 1 of Bad Monkey on Apple TV+ before the new season drops.
- Read "Razor Girl" by Carl Hiaasen to see the potential DNA of future episodes.
- Follow Bill Lawrence on social media—he’s notorious for posting behind-the-scenes updates from the set in Key West.