Will Gotham and Lucifer be Cancelled or Renewed?

This ongoing column focuses on shows that currently have a question mark concerning their future. You can see the status of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows at this link.

Both Gotham and Lucifer are shows that pull their source material from DC comics and both shows currently air on the FOX network. Both are also down in the ratings this year to the point that FOX could consider dropping one or both if they don’t improve their numbers. But ultimately, the decision will likely come down to what sort of deal that Warner Bros. (the studio that owns both shows) makes with FOX.

Gotham is in its fourth year and will have a syndication-friendly count of 88 episodes by season end. If the studio decides to just rake in the profits from syndication and streaming at this point, they can let the show end in Spring and head to its encore run. But I have not heard this referred to as the final season at this point, so Warner Bros. may be eying another season or more. FOX will likely receive no residuals from syndication or streaming, so they will mostly be interested in profiting off its original airings. If WB offers the show at a steep discount it may be worth it for FOX to keep it on and possibly shift it to Fridays to plug up a low-viewership hour. So if the ratings remain at current lows or slip further, then the show’s future will be determined by what sort of deal FOX and Warner Bros. work out. If the ratings improve, that could change the equation, but this show’s trend has been downward.

The situation is a little different for Lucifer because it is not in the syndication stretch yet. It will only have 57 episodes at season end because its first year only had thirteen. That means it will take more than one additional season to get it to the 88 episode threshold. I’m sure it is worthwhile for WB to keep the show going long enough to make it more attractive to the syndication market, but not so much for FOX which does not reap the benefits of the encore run. With Lucifer’s numbers down this season, that puts the show in iffy territory. If it holds steady at its current levels, FOX may agree to keep it around longer. But if it slips just a bit more, the network will have to think long and hard about committing further to this one. Warner Bros. may try to work out a package deal that keeps both shows on the air another season, but short of that, Lucifer has very little leeway for slippage the rest of the season.

Any decision on these will come closer to season end and their ratings performance in the Spring will heavily influence their standing unless WB basically gives the shows away to FOX. For now, consider the status for both as “to be determined”, but they are marginal candidates at best for renewal based on their Fall ratings.

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