Serial, the addictive murder mystery podcast that gripped the world, is set to return for a second season nearly a year after its smash debut.

That’s not all – according to AV Club, producers have also already started work on a third season.

• Serial podcast: Adnan Syed to get appeal

Adnan Syed. Photo: Serial podcast

The first season of the show revisited the compelling 1999 murder case of Hae Min Lee, thrusting her convicted murderer and ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed into the global spotlight.

Creators are tight-lipped about who the subjects of the next two seasons will be, but have reportedly said they will be “very different” for season one.

The second season will be available to download towards the end of the year, with the third season hitting the web in 2016.

Since the success of Serial season one, which was reportedly downloaded 68 million times, Syed has been granted an appeal.

While announcing the show’s follow-up seasons, creator and narrator Sarah Koenig also commented on the recent developments in Syed’s case, addressing widespread debate as to whether the podcast influenced his fate.

“What’s hard to know is whether all the outside attention to even the smallest wrinkles in Adnan’s case has influenced the Court of Special Appeals to take this unusual step,” a press release from Koenig reportedly said.

“But clearly the appellate judges are aware the public is watching, and while I don’t imagine they’d order anything they didn’t think was just, I do think it’s possible that they’re being extra careful to make this process as transparent as they can, so that the public will fully understand their ultimate decision.”