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
3 Body Problem (Netflix, Status: Renewed): Netflix previously announced a renewal for this show and that the creative team would “get to tell this story through to its epic conclusion”, but no further details were revealed at that time. Now the streamer has confirmed that the show will return for two additional seasons which will give it one for each book in the trilogy. The showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, previously indicated that they wanted it to go for four seasons, but when the initial renewal came, they claimed that the streamer was giving them enough episodes to tell the story they wanted. 3 Body Problem is very expensive to produce, so Netflix likely wanted to keep the show from going too long to put a cap on the budget. Benioff and Weiss were rushed to wrap up Game of Thrones with its eighth season and that caused some controversy, so we will see how things play out with this series.
Scavengers Reign (Netflix, Status: Cancelled): The first season of this animated sci fi series premiered on Netflix on May 31st, but it did not make it into that streamer’s Top 10 for the week. The show was previously cancelled by Max but then picked up by Netflix for an encore run and they are considering producing a second season. It will need to post better viewership numbers, though, so fans should make some noise on the social networks to bring it some attention and get more people watching on Netflix.
Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix, Status: Renewal Possible): This supernatural drama held at Number 3 in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for a second week in a row, improving to an estimated 699 million minutes watched. It dropped out of the Netflix charts after only three weeks, suggesting it may not have the completion rate that execs at that company are looking for. But it still has posted decent viewership and could continue to a second season.
Evil (Paramount+, Status: Cancelled): This show made it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings the week after its Season 4 premiere. It landed at Number 8 with 291 million minutes watched, though it got a boost from the encore run of the first two seasons on Netflix. Paramount+ is bringing the show to an end with its current season (giving it a few bonus episodes to wrap up its storylines), but if viewership remains strong, perhaps it could get an extension. Fans should take this opportunity to make some noise on the social networks to support that show.
You can see the status of all the shows from the current season at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
There were no cancellations or renewals this past week, so the score remains the same. We are currently at 26 renewed sci fi and fantasy entries (39% of shows tracked) vs. 15 cancelled and ending (23%). 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 | 66 | ||
| Cancelled | 9 | 13.6% | |
| Ending | 6 | 9.1% | 22.7% |
| Renewed | 26 | 39.4% | |
| On the Bubble | 4 | 6.1% | |
| Renewal Possible | 21 | 31.8% | |
| Mini-Series | 6 |
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.
