Arcane's Jinx Star Ella Purnell Didn't Know Season 2 Was The Last Until Her Last Recording Session: "No One Told Me"

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Ella Purnell, the voice of Jinx in Arcane, didn't know that season 2 would be the show's last until her final recording session. The hit Netflix animated series became a hit following its 2021 debut. Set in Riot Games' League of Legends universe, the show explores the origins of beloved champions like Jinx and Vi while depicting the escalating conflict between the cities of Piltover and Zaun. Though there was hope for more seasons, creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee had always planned for Arcane to conclude with season 2, wrapping up Jinx and her older sister Vi’s tumultuous journey.

With ScreenRant in attendance at MegaCon, Purnell revealed she didn't realize Arcane season 2 would be its final installment until late in the production process. The Yellowjackets alum, who brought Jinx’s chaotic and strong-willed energy to life, explained that she only found out about the show's ending shortly before her last voice recording session. Check out Purnell's comments below:

Well, I wouldn't know if it was going to be over. No one told me. This is true. Until I read the script, which was like a few days before my last recording session. And I read the script and I was like, what? We're doing another season, right? And I texted my agent and he was like,' oh, no, no, let me check in on that.' And then he goes, 'OK, so actually, it's done. I didn't know that.'

But I guess my life, my life didn't really change. You know, we recorded this over so many years and it's different with voiceover, right, because you're going in once a month, pretty much for a four-hour session. So you kind of forget what happens in between and you need like a little more pressure. So, it's definitely, I'm excited to get back in the booth and obviously really worried. I forgot how to do everything, but that thing never comes away. You're always worried that you forgot how to act. But then, yeah, you kind of get back in the foot.

What Ella Purnell's Arcane Experience Means

The Unpredictability Of Arcane’s Production

Purnell’s surprise at Arcane's conclusion gives some behind-the-scenes insight into the unpredictable nature of animated productions. Since voiceover work for animation is often recorded over several years in sporadic sessions, actors don’t always have a complete picture of a project’s trajectory until late in the process. Some actors may record an entire performance for an animated production before being replaced or scrapped entirely. Nonetheless, the decision to keep the series’ ending under wraps, even from one of Arcane's main characters, likely helped preserve the impact of its final season and prevent potential leaks.

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Despite delivering an award-winning performance as Jinx in Arcane's cast of characters, Purnell had no prior experience of voice acting before landing the role. Known for her work in films such as Tim Burton's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, animation was a new environment. Following her success in Arcane, Purnell has since expanded her voice-acting career with roles in other animated projects. She became a series regular in Star Trek: Prodigy, voicing the character Gwyn across two seasons and reprising the role in the video game Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova. Additionally, she briefly appeared in Invincible season 2.

Our Take On Purnell's Arcane Revelation

A Fittingly Chaotic Ending For Jinx’s Story

Jinx sitting on a chair looking emotional in Arcane

Given how Arcane meticulously crafted its narrative, it’s surprising that Purnell was unaware of the show’s conclusion until the last minute. However, in a way, it’s fitting—Jinx herself thrives in chaos, and learning about the end of her journey so suddenly mirrors the unpredictability of the character she brought to life. While it's bittersweet that Arcane has come to an end, its impact on animation and video game adaptations is undeniable with several follow-up series already in development. This may not be the end of Purnell's voice-acting journey—perhaps a return to the League of Legends universe in some form is still on the horizon.