Why Was Dark Matter Cancelled and Can It Be Revived?

Dark Matter was cancelled too soon by Syfy, but with the support of its creator and the fans it could be revived.

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What Is It?

This series follows six people who wake up in stasis pods on the starship Raza with no memory of who they are or why they are on that ship.  They take up the names of One through Six based on the order in which they left their pods while also discovering that an android is onboard who understands the functioning of the ship (but does not know why these six humans are there). As they seek answers to their situation, they start to discover that each has lived a troubled past, and that quickly catches up with them as they find themselves on the run in a hostile galaxy.

Aired: Syfy, 2015-17, 3 Seasons Totaling 39 Episodes

Starring: Marc Bendavid, Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr., Jodelle Ferland, Roger Cross

Created By: Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie

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Why Was It Cancelled?

Dark Matter debuted on Syfy with decent but not spectacular ratings, but the fact that this was a co-production with the Space channel helped to keep the show going its first few years. Its numbers slipped each season, though, and after its third year Syfy decided to pull the plug on the show.  Co-creator Joseph Mallozzi elaborated on the situation in a blog post claiming that the cancellation came due to the declining numbers and the fact that the series was an acquisition.  Since it was not owned by Syfy, the network would see little or nothing on future gains. The only money Syfy made on the show was based on advertising during the live broadcasts (as well as the digital viewing, though to a lesser extent) and the ratings did not bring in high enough ad revenue.  Mallozzi offered to pitch the fourth season of the show to the network executives, but they were not interested.  He had an overall five-season arc planned but indicated that he could do a wrap-up of the show with a six-episode mini-series.

How Did Fans Respond?

Despite the low Nielsen viewership numbers–which did not necessarily represent the full audience–Dark Matter had developed a notable and vocal fanbase. They immediately responded to the cancellation by taking to the social networks and staging multiple “tweetstorms” to get the show trending. They also put up an online petition which eventually reached over 77K signatures.  The hope was that if Syfy would not reverse its cancellation then Netflix or one of the other streaming services would pick the show up.  But despite a raucous campaign and plenty of publicity, the show remained cancelled at the three-season mark.  Netflix did acquire the show for encore runs and it allegedly performed quite well on that service while it was available, but the story arc remains unfinished.

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Can It Be Revived?

Dark Matter was cancelled in 2017, but there is still hope for a revival, especially since Joseph Mallozzi has remained closely involved with the property. In a blog post from August 2021, he indicated that he has worked out a six-part mini-series that could wrap up the show’s storylines and that he would pitch that to various venues. He gives the following description of how it would proceed:

Set three years after the events of Episode 313, a missing player returns with the key to thwarting a massive alien invasion. In order to defeat this formidable enemy, unlikely alliances will be forged, long-held secrets will be revealed, and the seeds of an even greater threat will be sown.

Nothing has come of that yet, but in a recent post on this site, I indicated that a revival of Dark Matter could draw some interest in the current television landscape as the networks look for safer properties to add to their scripted programming lineups.  The show had a relatively moderate budget, especially compared to some of the big-dollar productions put out by the streaming services these days.  And it brings a built-in audience that would certainly tune in for a new season that could wrap up the storylines and/or continue the adventures of the Raza.

That post sparked some interest among the fanbase, and it suggests that perhaps now is the time to get Dark Matter trending on the social networks again. In addition, the fans could stage watch parties (it is streaming for free on The CW’s website and app) to prove that this show does indeed have a notable audience that would tune in for new seasons.  If those efforts were to get some traction, Mallozzi could use that to help with a pitch to one of the streaming services or maybe one of the linear networks (FX is still in the scripted game and may have an interest).

I believe this show has a decent chance of getting revived because of the involvement from its creator, the fan support, and the fact that it should count as an affordable scripted entry. It does not require a huge commitment money-wise and it should draw enough viewership that it could prove a good fit for a more cautious entertainment industry. If fans were to come together once again to help bring the show some attention, perhaps the story of the crew of the Raza could continue for another season or more.

Did you watch Dark Matter and would you support fan efforts to bring it back? Chime in below in the comments.

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