[Udated September 4, 2024]
The 2022-23 season began without many cancellations of sci fi and fantasy shows, but by January they started coming fast and furious. With that season having officially wrapped, the current count of cancelled and ending shows is 41, and there and there are still several shows awaiting word on their fates. Below is the full rundown of the genre entries that will be coming to an end as of this season (including mini-series). Also below, I have the shows that are currently On the Bubble and could be facing cancellation soon. You can see the cancellations from the prior season at this link.
The Cancellation/Renewal Score for the 2022-23 season stands at 41 cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy shows (47% of the shows tracked) vs. 39 renewed (45%). Below are the season’s numbers, and you can see the full list of shows and keep up with the score throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.
| Show Count | 87 | ||
| Cancelled | 22 | 25.3% | |
| Ending | 19 | 21.8% | 47.1% |
| Renewed | 39 | 44.8% | |
| On the Bubble | 3 | 3.4% | |
| Renewal Possible | 4 | 4.6% | |
| Mini-Series | 3 |
For fans that want to help any of the cancelled/ending shows or the ones On the Bubble, a Call to Action on the social networks would be a good place to start. We have seen other shows like The Expanse, Lucifer, and Manifest saved in the past, and it could happen again with one of the recently cancelled shows. And be sure to stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Page for status updates and breaking news.
Cancelled/Ending Sci Fi and Fantasy Shows from the 2022-23 Season
1899 (Netflix, Cancelled After 1 Season): This historical mystery’s creators had hoped that it would go for three seasons like their previous Netflix entry Dark, but it was cut short after one year. It performed quite well in viewership, but apparently not good enough in the “completion rate” (the number of viewers that complete the current season) so the streamer chose to cancel it. Whether it can move to another venue to continue its story remains to be seen, but Netflix holds the rights to the property for at least two years.
Avenue 5 (HBO, Cancelled After 2 Seasons): The first season of this space comedy premiered with very little promotion and pulled mediocre viewership at best. When it returned after an extended hiatus in Fall 2022, it barely registered, only averaging a 0.01 rating (one one-hundredth of a ratings point) based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic across its eight episodes. The premium cable channels do not pay as much attention to the same-day numbers because they are not beholden to advertisers, but those still act as a leading indicator that not many people were tuning in, and HBO cancelled this one after its second season.
The Bastard Son and The Devil Himself (Netflix, Cancelled after 1 Season): This supernatural series based on the book Half Bad by Sally Green is yet another genre entry that arrived on Netflix with little to no promotion and ended up one-and-done after failing to find much of an audience. It did not make it into the Netflix Top 10 for its premiere week, even though it brought a following from the book and received some good buzz. That streamer has done little to support its own originals–even though it is pouring millions of dollars into them–and you will see its name repeated several times in this list of cancelled shows.
Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix, Ended after 1 Season): This series spent three weeks in the Netflix Top 10, with two of those in the Top 5. But it joins a list of other shows like Warrior Nun, The Imperfects, and The Midnight Club that also had three-week runs in the charts but ended up cancelled. Those did not satisfy the “completion rate” that Netflix execs are looking for and the shows were quickly discarded. Cabinet of Curiosities did not receive an official cancellation announcement, but apparently the streamer is considering it a “limited run” series with no plans of continuing to a second season. It could potentially move to another venue at some point, but Netflix likely holds the rights to the property for at least two years.
Carnival Row (Amazon, Cancelled After 2 Seasons): This show went on a long hiatus after its first season due to the COVID-related production shutdowns, and even after filming of the second season had been completed it spent an extended amount of time in post-production. The contracts for the cast and crew expired during that time and apparently Amazon decided not to keep the show going into a third season. The viewership for the first year was good, but apparently not enough to justify the cost seeing as this is an expensive series to produce.
Dragon Age Absolution (Netflix, Ended after 1 Season): This video game-based entry is yet another series that Netflix dropped on its viewers with little promotion and it failed to find much of an audience. The first season wrapped up its storylines, but set up the possibility to continue to a second year or beyond. But there has been no word on a renewal and it is looking like this is yet another one-and-done genre entry from Netflix.
See the current schedule of sci fi and fantasy television shows at this link
Doom Patrol (HBO Max, Ended After 4 Seasons): While many fans would have liked for this superhero series to continue for another year or more, four seasons and 46 episodes is a pretty good run for a streaming original these days. It is possible that the characters will return at some point, but the show was at least given the chance to wrap up most of its storylines.
Extrapolations (Apple TV+, Mini-Series): This ecological-themed quasi-anthology was billed as a mini-series and I have seen no indication that there are plans to continue it into a second season. It did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings during its one-season run, nor did it garner much acclaim, but it is possible that the creative team could explore more stories in the same universe at some point in the future.
Fantasy Island (FOX, Cancelled After 2 Seasons): This show never enjoyed strong ratings, but it operated under a low-cost model and had a lower threshold for success. Its second season premiere was delayed multiple times and then the show was frequently preempted which which suggests that FOX did not have much commitment to the show. It’s possible that its LGBT+ representation did not sit well with the conservative-leaning network and it is also possible that this was a casualty of the strike.
Fate: The Winx Saga (Netflix, Cancelled after 2 Seasons): This fantasy entry based on the Winx Club animated series follows a pattern we have seen with other Netflix shows on this list. The current season premieres with little in the way of advance promotion. It spends three weeks in the Netflix Top 10 then drops off. It is then cancelled by Netflix because the streamer’s execs believe it did not sustain viewership long enough to count as a success. Fans are fighting for this one to get a third season, but Netflix is unlikely to reverse the cancellation nor is it likely to release the rights to the property.
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC, Ending After 8 Seasons): The viewership for this show has been dropping for years (as with every entry in the Walking Dead franchise), and it is somewhat surprising it has remained around for an eight-season run. The show will at least get the chance to wrap up its storylines and it is possible that some of the characters could show up in one or more of the spin-off shows currently in the works.
The Flash (CW, Ending after 9 Seasons): This DC Comics series is the longest-lived Arrow-verse show and also the last official entry from that franchise (Superman & Lois is tangential to that universe). It had a good run, and some may even say it overstayed its welcome, but at its best it will be remembered as an excellent adaptation of the comic book character. At one point I was thinking that the Arrow-verse could continue on HBO Max, but that streamer is going through some shakeups and a whole new DCEU is in the works, so it is very possible that the CW franchise has run its course.
Gotham Knights (CW, Cancelled after 1 Season): This show seemed to be dead on arrival before its premiere because it was given the greenlight prior to a change in network ownership and it is not tied to any other DC franchise. But its ratings were good early on and it is less expensive to produce than the other CW genre shows, so the network did consider keeping it around for a second season. It did not make the final cut, though, as network execs decided to cancel this one and stick with their four top-rated shows instead.
The Hardy Boys (Hulu, Ending after 3 Seasons): This revival of the boy super-sleuths barely received much attention from Hulu and did not develop much buzz during its run. But it was allowed to continue to a third and final season to wrap up its storylines, following the pattern we used to see from the streaming services.
His Dark Materials (HBO, Ending after 3 Seasons): This adaptation of the Philip Pullman fantasy novels never drew huge ratings here in the states, but it is a co-production with BBC and it has performed better across the Atlantic. It was renewed for a third season giving it the chance to finish the story of the books, and it has been regarded as a notable fantasy entry for television.
The Imperfects (Netflix, Cancelled After 1 Season): Yet another Netflix entry, this sci fi/horror series had a three-week run in the Netflix Top 10 which should have counted as a good start for a freshman original, especially one that received very little promotion. But it did not check enough of the right performance boxes and it was kicked to the curb after one season as Netflix queues up the next series in its endless churn of originals.
Kindred (FX, Cancelled After 1 Seasons): Even though FX rarely cancels shows after one season, this one appeared to succumb to the Peak TV Crunch. It did not receive much promotion nor did it develop much buzz during its streaming run on Hulu, and it only barely touched the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for one week. It was cancelled after one season leaving the story on a cliffhanger that likely will not be resolved.
Kung Fu (CW, Cancelled After 3 Seasons): The ratings for this show dropped in its third season, but that was not the driving force behind its cancellation. The new ownership under Nexstar Media Group has plans to shift focus to lower-cost programming which appeals to an older demographic and the younger-skewing Kung Fu did not fit that model. The prior regime would have certainly given the show at least a fourth season, but the new owners decided to cut it short. There were attempts to shop it around, but a new home could not be found.
Let the Right One In (Showtime, Cancelled After 1 Season): This supernatural drama received very little promotion and barely registered in the ratings in its first season leading to Showtime pulling the plug. It is unclear how the networks expect shows to survive when they are tossed out to sink or swim in a glut of original programming, and this becomes yet another one-and-done casualty of the Peak TV era.
Little Demon (FXX, Cancelled After 1 Season): There has not been an official cancellation announcement for this animated supernatural comedy–including at the Disney Upfront in May 2023–but all signs point to the show being done. It pulled decent viewership for a basic cable entry and it had some star power backing it with Danny DeVito and Aubrey Plaza attached, but apparently there was no desire to keep it going for a second season. It is also one of several shows that were purged from streaming on Disney+/Hulu, which appears to confirm that the Mouse House has no future plans for it. Whether it will be shopped around remains to be seen.
Locke & Key (Netflix, Ended after 3 Seasons): This Netflix entry hearkens back to what was an old pattern from that streamer. It had a three-season run with the third season announced in advance as its last. That used to be fairly standard for originals from this streaming service when they pulled in at least decent viewership (sometimes even getting a fourth season). But that changed when the Netflix Red Queen showed up and started hollering her “Off With Their Heads!” verdict on a regular basis to keep the churn of originals moving. Fans of Fate: The Winx Saga (see above) and Warrior Nun (see below) would surely have been happy with one more season of each of their shows, but the streamer has instead resorted to an endless churn and quickly cutting off shows even though they have developed a loyal following.
Lockwood & Co. (Netflix, Cancelled After 1 Season): This supernatural drama is another that spent three weeks in the Netflix Top 10, including one at the Number 1 slot, but that does not necessarily correlate to a high “completion rate” which is how the streamer typically gauges the success of the show. It was generally well received, but Netflix gave up on it quickly as it continues to churn through originals looking for the next success on the same magnitude as Stanger Things or The Witcher. Fans are fighting for a second season, though.
Manifest (Netflix, Ending after 4 Seasons): This lost-plane series survived cancellation after NBC cut it short, but then Netflix picked it up after encore runs topped that streamer’s charts. They only gave it the greenlight for one additional season of twenty episodes, though, and they may now be wishing that they kept that open-ended seeing as the first part of the fourth season performed very well in the charts in Fall 2022. The second half of the fourth season premiered in June 2023, and presumably that will be it for this show.
The Midnight Club (Netflix, Cancelled after 1 Season): Yet another Netflix casualty, this supernatural drama had that dreaded three-week run on in the Netflix Top 10 which just doesn’t seem to be enough to get a renewal from that streamer these days. It came from the creators of The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, but unlike those two it was designed to go for multiple seasons. With the cancellation, its story will likely never be completed.
Mrs-Davis (Peacock, Ended After 1 Season): This odd, AI-meets-Jesus drama wrapped up most of its storylines by the end of the first season, but apparently there were thoughts of continuing it for a second year. Peacock apparently decided they did not want a second season, though, signaled by the fact that they moved it from the comedy Emmys category to limited series.
Nancy Drew (CW, Cancelled After 4 Seasons): This supernatural take on the famous female super-sleuth was never one of the better-rated shows on The CW, but it managed to get a four-season run even when more popular and higher-rated shows were getting cancelled. It was likely less expensive to produce than other CW shows like the Arrow-verse entries, and it does bring name recognition so it will likely live on in encore runs. The creative team did have more seasons planned, but because of the change in ownership at the network, those will not happen on The CW.
Pantheon (AMC, Cancelled After 2 Seasons): This show had originally received a two-season order–and the second season has been completed–but it was cancelled and pulled from streaming on AMC+ as a write-down amidst cost-cutting measures by AMC Networks. Ostensibly, it will move to a new venue at some point where both seasons will be available, but for now it is yet another abandoned genre entry.
Pennyworth (HBO Max, Cancelled After 3 Seasons): This Batman prequel series first aired on EPIX (now MGM+) then shifted over to HBO Max in its third season. Nielsen does not report on EPIX/MGM+ and the show did not make it into the streaming rankings in its third season, so it is unclear just how many people watched the series. But ultimately, it likely succumbed to all the shuffling of the DC Universe with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking that franchise in a different direction.
The Peripheral (Prime Video, Cancelled 1 Season): This time-bending series from Christopher Nolan and Lisa Joy had received a second season renewal, but then Amazon reversed that. It was a victim of the overspending we have been seeing from the streaming services as well as the fallout from the strikes. And don’t expect this one to get shopped around because Nolan and Joy are locked in at Amazon for now. The Peripheral was a promising series, but it ended up getting cut down too soon because of the Peak TV Crunch.
Riverdale (CW, Ending after 7 Seasons): This darker take on the Archie comics started out as a popular addition to The CW’s lineup, but its audience dropped off notably the last few years. It was still given the opportunity to wrap up its storylines and the name recognition it brings, along with its notable episode count, will allow it to live on for years in encore runs.
See (Apple TV+, Ended after 3 Seasons): Apple TV+ is one of the few streamers that has not been bitten by the cancellation bug (yet), and this post-apocalyptic series was given the standard three-season run with the final year announced in advance. Whether that trend will continue with Apple originals remains to be seen.
Servant (Apple TV+, Ending after 4 Seasons): Like See above, this supernatural drama has had a fairly standard run for a streaming original. It had four full seasons with the fourth announced in advance as its last, giving it the chance to wrap up its storylines. It’s possible that trend could become increasingly rare, though, as the Peak TV crunch seems to be driving more early cancellations these days.
She-Hulk (Disney+, Ended after 1 Season): The viewership numbers for this series were decent in its first season, but maybe not quite up to expectations. There has been no word on a second season over a year after it premiered, so the assumption is that the show was retro-fitted as a mini-series like we saw with Moonknight and Hawkeye and has ended for now. The character will likely return in some of the other MCU entries, and perhaps at some point a second season of the show could happen as well.
Star Trek: Picard (Paramount+, Ended after 3 Seasons): This show could have carried on for more seasons, and it definitely got a boost to its popularity with its well-received third year which delivered a full-on TNG reunion. But Patrick Stewart likely did not want to be tied down to an ongoing series at his advanced age. Fans are definitely hoping for a Star Trek: Legacy spin-off, and I expect that some TNG characters will be showing up in other Trek shows and movies down the road.
Stargirl (CW, Cancelled after 3 Seasons): This show was the season’s first casualty at The CW as the new owners started to purge prior programming to establish a new look for the network (which will likely offer little in the way of genre shows). I had originally thought that HBO Max might pick up a fourth season of this one (and fans have lobbied for that), but that streamer is going through shakeups of its own. As with the Arrow-verse shows, this one may be done for now.
Tales of the Walking Dead (AMC, Ended after 1 Season): The ratings for this show were not great in its first season, and AMC was completely quiet about its fate after it wrapped up in Fall 2022. The network obviously does not want to cancel a show from its flagship franchise, so I am sure they will say it was intended for a one-season run if pushed to the wall. A web series of shorts to be titled More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe is in the works and there is a chance that the full-length anthology one could return at some point. But for now, the network is focusing on the other TWD spin-offs.
Titans (HBO Max, Ending after 4 Seasons): Like Doom Patrol Above, fans of this superhero entry likely would have preferred that it continue for a few more years. But four seasons and 49 episodes counts as a pretty healthy run for a streaming original these days. It is not impossible that the characters could show up in other DC projects, but they at least had the opportunity for a decent wrap-up in their own show.
Vampire Academy (Peacock, Cancelled After 1 Season): This supernatural drama is yet another Peak TV casualty that was thrown out without much promotion and that its own network even admitted it was not ready to support. It did develop a fanbase and there were attempts to move it to a new venue, but it did not draw enough interest from other buyers.
The Walking Dead (AMC, Ended after 11 Seasons): Many believed that this zombie-pocalypse show should have ended several years ago and it definitely seemed to be biding its time the last few seasons. But it did at least get the chance to wrap up its storylines, and some would argue that it improved in its final year. Several spin-offs are on the way, but I am guessing we will be seeing diminishing returns from those and a continuation of the Walking Dexit as interest in the franchise declines.
Warrior Nun (Netflix, Uncancelled): This is yet another Netflix series that received little promotion and that was cancelled after a three-week run in the charts. But the fans came through in a big way for this one and it will be continuing with three movies that will wrap up its storylines. The details of those have not been released yet, nor do we know what venue the show will be moving to. But this is yet another example of the power of the fans and that shows can survive cancellation even when their networks give up on them.
War of the Worlds (EPIX/MGM+, Ending after 3 Seasons): This British/French-made series had a three-season run that allowed it to wrap up most of its storylines. The third season was never officially announced as the show’s last, but it ended on a rather final note. Considering the alternate timelines introduced, there is always a possibility that a fourth season could emerge at some point. But the actors and creative team have moved on to other projects, so that seems unlikely.
Willow (Disney+, Cancelled after 1 Season): Disney+ announced that this sequel to the 1988 film of the same name had ended after one season and that the cast and crew had been released from their contracts. It did not pull high viewership in its one season, but the show still developed somewhat of a fanbase. And series creator Jon Kasdan insists that it could return and some point in the future. It has been pulled from the streaming service, though, so that seems unlikely.
The Winchesters (CW, Cancelled After 1 Season): The ratings for this Supernatural spin-off were decent, and under the prior regime it certainly would have continued to a second season. But Nexstar Media Group has a new model for the network that focuses on lower-cost programming which appeals to an older demographic. The Winchesters did not fit into that, but Warner Bros. is shopping the show around, so it could possibly return for a second season.
The Witcher: Blood Origins (Netflix, Mini-Series): This offshoot from Netflix’s popular The Witcher was planned as a mini-series and it only spent a brief time in the streaming charts. It does not come close to matching the success of the parent series but I still expect to see more spin-offs in the coming years.
On The Bubble
These shows have not been cancelled yet, but their prospects do not look good at this point. They could certainly use a Call to Action from fans to improve their chances of continuing for another season.
Hello Tomorrow! (Apple TV+, On the Bubble): This odd little retro series arrived in February, but there has been no word on its fate since it wrapped up its first season in April. It did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings and it did not get great feedback on Rotten Tomatoes, currently holding on a 54% Tomatometer Score and a 73% Audience Score. Apple TV+ has been cancelling some of its first-year shows of late and this one could follow that path as well.
The Power (Prime Video, On the Bubble): This show wrapped up in May and there has been no word on its fate. It did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for its first-year run, but it has received decent marks from critics and viewers on Rotten Tomatoes, currently holding a 74% Fresh Rating and an 80% Audience Score. Members of the cast have indicated that they would like to return for a second season, but with the strikes bringing production to a halt, it’s possible this show could get lost in the mix.
Rabbit Hole (Peacock, On the Bubble): This spy thriller with hints of sci fi did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings during its first season run and there has been no word about it since it wrapped up in May. Series star Kiefer Sutherland has indicated that he would like the show to continue for a second season, but this one did not stir up much buzz and it is possible it could become yet another show lost in the mix with the strikes going on.
More from CancelledSciFi.com:
Keep up with the status updates of all the airing, returning, and upcoming sci fi and fantasy shows for the current season with our Cancellation Watch posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates.
Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
