The actors’ strike has ended but we are already starting to see the impact of this year’s labor movements as Netflix has cancelled both the fantasy series Shadow and Bone and the animated sci fi comedy Farzar, citing the strikes as the reason. Production has already started to ramp back up, but there is only a limited amount of studio space and resources for all of these shows along with a crowded schedule, and some are getting cut–especially the ones that have been in limbo for a while. I had actually already given up on Farzar as its first season was released back in July 2022 without placing in the Netflix Top 10 and there had been no word on a second year of that one. The sophomore season of Shadow and Bone premiered in March 2023–shortly before the writers’ strike began–and it spent five weeks in the Netflix Top 10 along with four weeks in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings. But there was no word on its future, and I previously predicted that it could become a casualty of the strikes.
The fallout from the strikes has been expected, and more shows will likely be impacted. And while Netflix was quick to renew this season’s One Piece and Castlevania: Nocturne, it has poured a lot of money into its originals and may be reaching a point of unsustainability as the Peak TV Crunch continues to take its toll (more on that at this link). Other Netflix shows currently awaiting word on their fates include the animated entries Pluto and Skull Island as well as the celebrated anthology series Black Mirror. Farzar did not seem to generate much attention during its initial run, so I don’t believe there will be much effort to save it. But Shadow and Bone definitely developed an energized fanbase, and I expect that they will be lobbying hard for a third season.
The cancellation for Shadow and Bone counts back to the 2022-23 season which brings that tally to 43 cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy shows (49% of shows tracked) vs. 39 renewed (43%). Farzar counts back to the 2021-22 season and I already had that one as ended. You can see the breakdown of the numbers and the full list of shows for the current and prior seasons at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Shadow and Bone focuses on the mapmaker and orphan named Alina Starkov who is a soldier in her country’s army and who also discovers she is a Grisha, a person with special abilities. She learns that she must use her powers against the dark forces that threaten her world and the universe. It stars Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, and Ben Barnes and it is based on the Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo.
Farzar takes place on the planet of the title and follows Prince Fichael–son of the villainous czar Renzo–and his crew as they venture out of their domed human city to fight the evil aliens that want to kill them. Once outside, though, they learn that all may not be what it seems. The voice cast includes Dana Snyder, Lance Reddick, David Kaye, Kari Wahlgren, and Jerry Minor.
We are several months into the 2023-24 season and there are plenty more cancellation and renewal announcements on the way. You can see the status of all this season’s shows at this link. And be sure to follow this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for updates and breaking news.
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.
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