Proving once again that social media can be a powerful tool and that fans can make a difference, Netflix has given the greenlight to a fourth and final season of the missing-plane drama Manifest. That announcement came yesterday appropriately enough at 8:28 AM on 8/28 (the flight number of the plane is 828). NBC previoulsy announced the cancellation of the show in June, but its studio Warner Bros. TV shopped it around to other venues. Netflix seemed like a likely landing place since it had rights to prior seasons, but the streamer passed on the show and it appeared that any chance of resolving the show’s storylines had been grounded. But prior to that, fans had taken to the social networks and started a raucous campaign to save the show. And then the first two seasons shot to the top of the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for acquired shows once began its encore run on Netflix. It went seven straight weeks at Number 1 (driven in part by fan watch-parties) and logged as much as 2.5 billion minutes of viewing for its most-watched week. Both NBC and Netflix reconsidered their stance on the show and went back into negotiations. Netflix apparently took the lead in that process and has now renewed the show for a fourth and final season.
Series creator Jeff Rake–who has been actively supporting fan efforts to save the show–had the following to say about the renewal:
What started years ago as a flight of fancy deep in my imagination has evolved into the jet engine journey of a lifetime. Never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned the worldwide outpouring of love and support for this story, its characters, and the team who work so hard to bring it all to life. That we will be able to reward the fans with the ending they deserve moves me to no end. On behalf of the cast, the crew, the writers, directors, and producers, thank you to Netflix, to Warner Bros., and of course to the fans. You did this.
I was a little bit surprised that Netflix only picked up the show for one additional season seeing as a six-year run was the original plan to tell the full story. But twenty episodes have been ordered which will be the longest season it has had so far. I’m guessing that will be split into two ten-ep runs similar to what the streamer did with the fifth season of Lucifer (which it saved from cancellation by FOX). And that show, which has proven quite popular on Netflix, ended up getting an additional sixth season, so it is not impossible that Manifest could get an extension as well if the viewership remains strong when it returns for its fourth year.
NBC’s initial cancellation of the show is yet another indication that the broadcast networks remain disconnected from their audience in the 21st century. The linear ratings were down for the show, but certainly the delayed viewing (where the show always got a notable boost), as well as the digital viewership on Hulu and Peacock, should have given an indication that the show has a sizeable following. If the network had enough foresight, perhaps they could have worked a deal with WB to share in the profits of a show that will certainly have an extended life in encore runs. And once again, the fans stepped up and helped keep a show going that had been abandoned by its network’s short-sighted decision-making. We saw it previously with Timeless, Lucifer, and The Expanse, and now Manifest is yet another example of what the fans can do with 21st century technology and sufficient motivation. The fourth season of the show should debut on Netflix at some point in 2022.
Manifest follows the passengers and crew of a flight that disappeared for five years then mysteriously returns with time not having passed for those aboard. They try to discover the truth of what happened to them while also dealing with foreboding visions that many start having after their return. It stars Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, Athena Karkanis, J. R. Ramirez, and Luna Blaise and is executive produced by Robert Zemeckis.
There are still several sci fi and fantasy shows we are waiting to hear word on as the 2020-21 season wraps up this month, and you can see the rundown of those at this link. You can see the status of all the currently airing, returning, and upcoming sci fi and fantasy shows on our Cancellation Watch Page. And be sure to stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates.
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