Preempting regularly-scheduled Saturday programming, we bring you yet another cancellation as a result of write-downs. TNT will not be airing the planned fourth season of the post-apocalyptic series Snowpiercer as a cost-cutting move from the shakeups following the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery. The decision had already been made last year for TNT to exit from scripted programming apart from acquisitions, but the fourth season renewal for Snowpiercer–which performed relatively well in viewership–had been announced prior to that. The season has been completed, but the show now finds itself without a home.
Production company Tomorrow Studios is still banking on the property, though, and they will be shopping it around to other venues. In addition, they are floating the possibility of a prequel and a sequel series as they see the potential of turning this into a franchise. CEO Marty Adelstein and President Becky Clements issued the following statement about the series:
We love Snowpiercer and believe season four completes a story with incredible talent that will entertain viewers while exploring issues of climate change and class warfare. We are so passionate about this series that we have acquired the rights to control the franchise. We hope to find the perfect partner shortly and finish a great ride with the final season.
As mentioned, Tomorrow Studios has bought back the rights for the entire series which will make it easier to shop the property around. (I expect that prior seasons of the show will be leaving HBO Max soon.) Fans should definitely take this as an opportunity for a Call to Action on the social networks to help bring attention to the series and interest other buyers in picking it up.
Snowpiercer takes place on a future Earth where the impact of climate change has frozen over the surface of the planet. The last survivors live onboard the titular train which is a thousand cars long and split up between first class, second class, third class, and the rest. But after a series of murders occur, the status quo of the train is thrown in doubt. It stars Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner, Alison Wright, and Sean Bean and it is based on the 2013 film of the same name directed by Bong Joon-ho.
The new year has just begun and it is starting to look like 2023 could bring a lot of cancellations, so be sure to stay tuned to this site for news and updates. You can see the status of all the currently airing and returning sci fi and fantasy shows on our Cancellation Watch Page. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news.
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