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
House of the Dragon (HBO, Status: Renewed): This fantasy series drew 7.8 million total views across all platforms according to numbers provided by HBO. That is down from the ten million viewers it had for its series premiere last year, but still a strong showing for its second season return. House of the Dragon has been renewed for a third season and, according to George R.R. Martin, early work on a fourth year has already begun.
The Acolyte (Disney+, Status: Renewal Possible): This Star Wars entry pulled in 11.1 million viewers globally in its first five days according to numbers provided by Disney. That is the best premiere for a streaming original on that service this year and improves its chances of continuing to a second season. There were talks that it could be one-and-done because the show is quite expensive, but if the viewership holds up, perhaps it will continue to a second season. Fans should definitely make some noise on the social networks to support this one, though, because a renewal is not guaranteed at this point.
Interview with the Vampire (AMC, Status: Renewal Possible): The same-day ratings for this show have been down by over 50% from its first year, currently averaging a 0.04 score in the 18-49 demographic, but it may be making up the slack with digital viewing on AMC+. And showrunner Rolin Jones just re-upped his deal with AMC which is a good sign for this series. In addition, the network has invested a lot in its Immortal Universe which includes Mayfair Witches and is based on the novels by Anne Rice. At this point, a third-season renewal is looking like a good bet for Interview with the Vampire despite the low linear viewing numbers.
Evil (Paramount+, Status: Cancelled): This show held at Number 2 in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for a second week in a row, pulling in an estimated 700 million minutes of viewing (which is boosted by an encore run of its first two seasons on Netflix). Paramount+ announced the show’s currently streaming fourth season as its last, but if fans want to fight for it to continue, this should definitely give them some fuel. They should take to the social networks and point out how well it is performing, and perhaps Paramount+ or Netflix will consider giving the show a fifth year.
Doctor Who (Disney+, Status: Renewal Possible): This series has still not made it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings two weeks after its premiere on Disney+, and its linear viewing in Britain has slipped to a low point. I don’t believe that puts the show in danger of being cancelled since it is pretty much an institution worldwide at this point, but it could signal some changes for future seasons in an attempt to try and turn viewership around. I will continue to keep a close eye on this one, but its move to Disney+ has not drawn the viewership expected so far.
You can see the status of all the shows from the current season at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
Two renewal announcements have come in over the last few days with HBO’s House of the Dragon getting the greenlight for a third season and Resident Alien getting picked up for a fourth season (though it will be moving to USA). That brings the Cancellation/Renewal Score for the current season to 28 renewed sci fi and fantasy entries (41% of shows tracked) vs. 16 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 | 69 | ||
| Cancelled | 10 | 14.5% | |
| Ending | 6 | 8.7% | 23.2% |
| Renewed | 28 | 40.6% | |
| On the Bubble | 3 | 4.3% | |
| Renewal Possible | 22 | 31.9% | |
| 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.
I have to wonder how much Acolyte viewership is hate-watching. I couldn’t make it past the first scene with Jedi-Trinity.