Warning: Spoilers ahead for the Yellowjackets season 3 finale!Akilah isn’t confirmed to have survived the wilderness timeline inYellowjackets, but I still think she could make her debut in the adult timeline during season 4. Nia Sondaya, who has played theYellowjacketscharactersince season 2, received a bigger role in season 3. Not only did she oversee the camp’s animal pen, but she also got closer to Lottie after Travis convinced everyone that Akilah had a special connection to the wilderness. Though he lied, Akilah and her various visions were important toYellowjacketsseason 3’s turn of events.
Yellowjacketsseason 3 solved several major mysteries, including who killed Lottie and which character ended up being the pit girl. Based onYellowjacketsseason 3’s ending, it’s clear the show is heading into new territory if it’s renewed for season 4. Taissa and Misty now view Shauna as a threat, as does her family, considering Jeff and Callie left her behind to hide in an unknown location. Meanwhile, Natalie made contact with an outsider on the satellite phone, which could finally lead to a rescue. Based on season 3 evidence, I think Akilah could be part of that rescue.
Season 3 Didn’t Confirm Akilah’s Death
Image via Paramount+
During the hunt, the survivors were supposed to be chasing down Mari, who ended up beingYellowjackets' pit girl. However, several characters got sidetracked, including Akilah, who tracked down Lottie in the cave. The scene confirmed that Akilah killed her animals in theYellowjacketsseason 3 finale to give the group a need for a new hunt, but she also questioned Lottie and her beliefs. At one point,it seemed like Akilah intended to kill Lottie in the cave. That wasn’t the case, and even though Akilah wasn’t shown leaving the cave, it’s possible she made it out of the wilderness alive inYellowjackets.
Natalie seemingly paved the way for the group to get rescued. While we are aware that eight teens survivedYellowjackets’wilderness timeline based on their adult counterparts, Melissa’s survival proved that the number could be higher. Just because Akilah hasn’t been mentioned by the adult characters doesn’t mean she’s not out there somewhere. There are some theories suggesting Lottie killed Akilah in the cave for not fully trusting in the power of “It,” but until a body is shown, nothing is off the table regarding adult Akilah.
Casting Rumors Have Supported Adult Akilah Joining Yellowjackets
Nia Sondaya Has Commented On The Yellowjackets Rumors
Ahead ofYellowjacketsseason 3, it was announced that Hilary Swank and Joel McHale were joining the show. Swank turned out to be the adult version of Melissa, whereas McHale portrayed Kodiak in the wilderness timeline. Oddly, another name was mentioned in casting rumors ahead of the new season: Evans Johnson. The actress became heavily linked to adult Akilah, especially afterJohnson posted Instagram Stories supporting the character’s connection to Nia Sondaya’s teen Akilah.
When asked about Johnson, Sondaya played coy but confirmed that the actress worked on season 3 as part of the “crew.”
Sondaya recently spoke about Akilah’s season 3 story in an interview and commented on the Evans Johnson rumors (viakfunggg on YouTube). When asked about Johnson, Sondaya played coy but confirmed that the actress worked on season 3 as part of the “crew.” It’s unclear what Johnson’s role on the crew was, though the playful answers from Sondaya seem like a clever way to hide Johnson’s true role on the show. More than anything, it keeps hope alive that adult Akilah will appear inYellowjacketsseason 4.
There’s Still Hope For Adult Akilah In Season 4 (Even After That Tai & Misty Scene)
Was Adult Akilah Supposed To Appear In The Season 3 Finale?
InYellowjacketsseason 3’s “Full Circle,” Tai met up with Misty at a diner to discuss how much of a problem Shauna has become. Interestingly, Tai admitted that a lot of what had gone wrong for them was due to Shauna, whether from actions in the wilderness to her decision-making as an adult. Misty didn’t hesitate to agree and seemed willing to help Tai deal with their Shauna problem. Granted,the scene between Tai and Misty inYellowjacketsseason 3’s finale has become a talking point among fans, with some believing it was meant to introduce the adult version of Akilah.
The scene began with Tai talking to an unknown person before revealing Misty was sitting across from her in the booth. The style of the reveal seemed odd, considering Misty had always been a pivotal piece of the adult story. Her willingness to help Tai against Shauna, whom she has her own personal issues with, didn’t feel like a surprise. It was almost as if the show changed the scene after originally planning to reveal Akilah’s survival as someone new for Tai to recruit. PerhapsYellowjacketsdecided to wait until season 4 to introduce another adult after losing so many in season 3.
