Cancellation Watch: Status updates for the sci fi and fantasy shows on the broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services as well as breaking news on the currently airing, returning, and upcoming genre entries.
Status Updates
Nautilus (AMC, Upcoming, Cancelled): This exploration of the early years of the Jules Verne character Captain Nemo was planned as a Disney+ original, and the first season was completed, but that streamer decided to drop it before it aired as a cost-cutting measure. It was shopped around and now AMC has picked it up and will air it as a “special television event” in 2024 (it will also be available for streaming on AMC+). There is no word on a second season at this point, and I am going to consider that very unlikely unless it turns into a huge hit in the ratings. And even if it does, the contracts for the cast and crew will have expired presenting another hurdle for continuing of the show. For now, I am still counting it as cancelled, but at least it will get the chance to air its episodes.
Rabbit Hole (Paramount+, Completed 1st Season, Cancelled): This spy fi series barely counts as a genre entry, but I have given it some coverage at this site thinking that it had the potential to venture into some interesting science fiction territory. It did not draw much of an audience with its first season run in Spring, though, and Paramount+ has decided not to go forward with a second season. It is unlikely that it will get shopped around because it was produced by CBS Studios, which is under the Paramount umbrella, and they will have little interest in putting more money into the property.
Chucky (Syfy, Airing 3rd Season, Renewal Possible): The mid-season finale for this series dropped to only a 0.02 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic with 129K total viewers for its airing on Syfy. It did pull a 0.08 score with 247K total viewers for its simulcast on USA, but the low viewership on its primary home has to be concerning. I’m not moving it to Bubble status yet, but if the numbers remain low when it returns for the second half of its third season in 2024, Chucky’s days on television may be numbered.
Creepshow (Shudder/AMC, Airing 4th Season, Renewal Possible): This horror anthology premiered two weeks ago, but we will not know the streaming numbers because Nielsen does not track AMC+/Shudder. It is also airing Friday nights at 10 PM EST on AMC and it has averaged a 0.06 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic across its first three Season 4 episodes. And while those are not strong ratings, they are also not bad for a basic cable entry on Friday nights. Considering the show is likely not among the more expensive scripted originals on television, a fifth season renewal looks like a possibility at this point.
Gen V (Prime Video, Streaming 1st Season, Renewed): This series premiered in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings at Number 8 with 374 million minutes of viewing for its first three episodes. It has already been renewed for a second season and could stick around for a few years as a companion series to The Boys.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
The cancellation of Rabbit Hole by Paramount+ counts for the 2022-23 season, bringing the numbers to 42 cancelled and ending shows (48% of shows tracked) vs. 39 renewed (44%). For the current season, we are at eleven renewed sci fi and fantasy shows (37% of shows tracked) vs. three cancelled and ending (10%). Below are this season’s numbers, and you can see the list of shows and keep up with the score throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.
| Show Count | 30 | ||
| Cancelled | 2 | 6.7% | |
| Ending | 1 | 3.3% | 10.0% |
| Renewed | 11 | 36.7% | |
| On the Bubble | 2 | 6.7% | |
| Renewal Possible | 14 | 46.7% | |
| Mini-Series | 2 |
Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV
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.
