- As streamers become more risk averse, we reflect on some of the cult shows cancelled in 2024 after just one season
We’ve enjoyed the return of several favourite shows in 2024, and welcomed new shows to our list of favourites. We also have plenty to look forward to in 2025. But. Let’s not forget it’s not all get news, and plenty of cult shows were cancelled in 2024. The reality is streamers want to make money, rather than just make so-called good programs. No audience, no renewal, and particularly in the world of CGI heavy shows. In this article, we remind ourselves of a few titles cancelled after one season.
We’ll take them in alphabetic order.
Time Bandits
Starring Lisa Kudrow, this TV version of the classic film was quickly cancelled. As we reported, despite positive reviews, the audience did not seem to be there. We’d be interested in how the Apple TV+ audience breaks down demographically, as this show seemed to fill a gap in the portfolio.
Sunny
Another Apple TV+ cancellation, this time it’s quirky show Sunny starring Rashida Jones. Based on the novel The Dark Manual by Japan-based Irish writer Colin O’Sullivan, it’s yet another example of a show (as suggested by Screen Daily) failing to pull in audience despite critical success. We found it intriguing to see a show in a less familiar setting, enjoyed the craziness of the plot and are now disappointed to have a cliffhanger unresolved.
Star Wars: The Acolyte
Possibly doomed from the start, The Acolyte attracted a lot of attention, mostly for the wrong reasons. Amidst claims of trolling, review bombing, misogyny and generally toxic fandom, claims of cancellation emerged from very early in the show’s run if not before. It’s not a good recommendation for fandom, and is part of why we at Cultbox seek to be objective, and flag open when we write from personal preference, while recognising a range of valid views exists.
Despite all the noise, it was all very simple and succinctly expressed by Forbes: New Details Emerge About Why ‘The Acolyte’ Was Cancelled. It wasn’t popular and viewership collapsed by episode 2. No big conspiracy.
Orphan Black: Echoes
The combined might of both Keeley Hawes and Krysten Ritter were not enough to lift Orphan Black: Echoes to anything like the popularity of the original Orphan Black. We can’t help feel AMC’s approach to releasing the show didn’t help it build audience, but in this case reviews (Rotten Tomatoes scores a mediocre 60% critics and 51% audience) were also a good indicator the show had nowhere to go.
My Lady Jane
If Prime Video advertised My Lady Jane, we have to confess to barely noticing. Starring Emily Bader in the title role alongside Edward Bluemel, a great cast included Rob Brydon, Anna Chancellor, Dominic Cooper, Jim Broadbent…. Not only was it packed with talent, but the cast gave a convincing impression of really enjoying the show. The premise (and it’s based on a novel) is simple — in real history, Lady Jane Grey became Queen of England for nine whole days as part of a plot to stop Mary ascending the throne. It ended (in our world) with Jane’s execution. But what if it didn’t?
That’s already enough premise to give the show a try, then there’s the surprise of widespread magic use and shapeshifting — it’s a crazy magical romp, and we lapped it up. Sadly the show was dropped just as Mary seemed to get the upper hand. Perhaps some marketing might have helped. We’ll never know.
KAOS
Netflix has long had a reputation of cancelling promising shows (rightly or wrongly), but like many we were surprised when KAOS was dropped only one month after airing. It seemed well marketed, a great cast included Jeff Goldblum, Eddie Izzard and Billie Piper amongst many, and brought the greek legends very much to life. While the season did at least close off a few story threads, it was all targeted towards a much bigger story for future seasons. As the BBC reports, the show’s creator Charlie Covell, had plenty to say, particularly as the show made the Netflix Top 10. The BBC article covers much of the same ground as this and reflects on forces impacting the streaming sector as a whole.
Other cult shows cancelled
We could continue. Dead Boy Detectives suffered poor audience and (perhaps) collateral damage from controversies concerning Neil Gaiman. We’ve left out the promising Renegade Nell and had we looked at shows cancelled after their second season, let’s not forget the indecent haste with which Prime Video called time on Outer Range. If we’ve missed any of your favourites, do let us know in the comments. Meanwhile, let’s hope for a fewer one-season early endings in 2025.