Revolution was cut short by NBC, but fan efforts could convince Warner Bros. TV to bring it back for a third season, perhaps on HBO Max or Peacock.
What Is It?
This series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where fifteen years prior “The Blackout” caused everything run by electricity to be completely disabled. The catastrophe caused the government to collapse and several small “republics” arise across the country, largely run by their militia. One man holds the answer for how to restore the power, but he is killed and his son is kidnapped. His family then goes on the run from the militia of Monroe Republic who are searching for the secret to bring back the power and control the country. The show was created by Supernatural‘s Eric Kripke and executive produced by John Favreau and J.J. Abrams.
Aired: NBC, 2012-14, 2 Seasons Totaling 44 Episodes
Starring: Billy Burke, Tracy Spiridakos, Giancarlo Esposito, Zak Orth, David Lyons, Elizabeth Mitchell
Created By: Eric Kripke
Why Was It Cancelled?
This show started out as a ratings hit, airing on Mondays in the 10 PM EST timeslot with ratings-powerhouse The Voice as its lead-in. Its numbers started to slip notably by mid-season, but NBC still brought it back for a second year. However, they moved it to the Wednesday 8 PM EST timeslot at the same time that the tone of the show took a darker turn. It proved a poor fit for that family-friendly hour and the audience attrition continued. It had developed a very vocal fanbase, though, and they were active online trying to bring attention to Revolution. But the ratings had sunk low enough by the end of its second season that NBC pulled the plug on the show.
Eric Krikpe gave the following description of how the third season would have progressed if the show was picked up:
It was gonna be this kind of treasure story where they were going to hear a legend of a very mythic treasure. It wasn’t gonna be gold, it was gonna be supplies. It was gonna be this incredible stockpile of supplies. All the good guys and all the bad guys in the show were going to fight for this gold mine of material and supplies. It was going to be fun. It wasn’t going to be a war season. It was going to be a treasure hunt season, which would have been fun and mixed up the show in a really interesting way.
How Did Fans Respond?
As mentioned above, the fans were already active before the show was cancelled and they ramped up their efforts afterward trying to convince NBC execs to change their minds or Netflix to pick the show up. Twitter was not as strong of a platform at the time for Save-My-Show efforts, but fans used that and other social media sites to get the word out. They also had an online petition which garnered more than 100K signatures. The show was on the high side of Netflix’s price range at the time, but that streamer had indicated a willingness to pick up cancelled network shows and would later start throwing stupid money at its productions. But ultimately, neither Netflix nor NBC could be convinced to bring the show back for a third season.
Fans continued their efforts, though, and eventually the decision was made to put out a four-part digital comic to give the show some sort of resolution. It did at least wrap up some of the story arcs, but fans would have much preferred at least a final season. (The comic is still available on the show’s Facebook page: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4.)
Can It Be Revived?
It has been quite a number of years since Revolution last aired (May 2014 was the final episode), and I dont know if a full-on revival is possible (and the fans would certainly shun a reboot). But in the current Streaming Wars environment, this show might represent an opportunity. It is owned by Warner Bros. TV, and The WB is doing everything it can to push its HBO Max streaming service. Based on the following that Revolution proved it had, a mini-series revival would certainly be a strong subscription draw for the streamer. It could take place a few years after the Season 2 finale to explain why the characters have aged, and perhaps pick up on the storylines left hanging. I know that several of the principles are otherwise engaged at the moment, but they might be able to work a six-episode third season into their schedules. That could provide a better resolution than the rather short digital comic, and it could be left open for continuation if it proves popular (just no cliffhanger endings please).
Revolution is currently available for streaming on Tubi TV, so a watch party there could potentially bring it some attention. I know that fans are passionate about the show, and they could also certainly stage something on the social networks to rival what fans of Lucifer, The Expanse, and Manifest did (all of which led to those shows getting saved). They could also start buying the series VOD or on DVD/Blu-ray which would certainly get the attention of WB execs because it impacts the bottom line. Another online petition might help as well. There is a slight possibility Peacock might have an interest in picking it up, but I don’t know if that would involve re-acquiring the rights to the property.
A revival of this show is right at the edge of feasibility because of the time that has passed, but it is not out of reach just yet. The fanbase is there and they may just have enough will to make one more shot at a Call to Action to get a third season (and possibly more) of Revolution. It could be an uphill battle, but there is also a very real possibility that The WB could see this as a way to boost subscriptions for HBO Max (or NBC for Peacock). Creator Eric Kripke and executive producer John Favreau were supportive of fan efforts in the past, and just may step up again. And it would not have to have the mega-budget that we see from many streaming productions these days. Time is critical on this, but if the fans were to get something going now, a third season could become a reality.
Did you watch Revolution and would you support fan efforts to bring it back? Chime in below in the comments.
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Bring this show back out Season 1 and 2 to gain traction then drop Season 3 in May 2024! It can be done!
I’ve been waiting for season three literally since I finished watching season two like a LONG time ago! and every once in a while I rewatch it again n I’m still waiting for something to happen please, people really loved the show and I’m sure a lot of people will too.. just give it a shot please
I LOVED it and wish it would be brought back. Seems really close to what is going on for real now though, doesn’t it.
I just finished watching both seasons of Revolution again and would love to see them make Season 3. We fans need closure and would love to see it come back!
Excellent character acting and plenty of action!! Please bring on Season 3!!!
I was a big fan of Revolution it was really an interesting and exciting show with a great cast and good story line All of a sudden electricity is gone no power however there are so many different ways to obtain it. There’s the ol kite in the sky, there’s Dams there’s bicycles and modes that are too difficult to get into. Wanted to see how it ends
Please bring back revolution
I really liked the idea of the show. I wish the show had focused more on the new society that had developed with multiple countries forming out of the former USA. However, the 2nd season started getting a little too far out there with the nanites taking on human form. It started to go from a post-apocalyptic show to a supernatural show. If a show starts to switch genres, it’s a recipe for disaster.
I really liked the first couple of seasons (I think it was the first couple) of Fallen Skies, until it started to do the same thing. It went from human society fighting against alien invaders to having a character with god-like powers. That killed it.
I agree I forgot about the teacher guy with the Asian ex wife had gotten powers when you mix things up like that it will get complicated
Please bring Revolution back.. The acting was superb, I would like to see this show revived…
Yes bring it back there’s hardly any good shows anymore it also needs a proper ending. Long live Revolution
Revolution is a show with a solid story unlike many others. NBC screwed with the scheduling and damaged it. However with streaming it is stronger than ever and is one of the best sci-fi combination shows ever.
Please film season 3!
We want more!
100% agree. Much better than so many others like manifest etc. How this was cancelled is beyond a joke. How they left it to end was not on. They need to bring it back ASAP. Was so good. Rewatching again now after all them years. Bring it back
BRING BACK REVOLUTION!!! NETFLIX SHOULD PICK IT UP, GET ALL THE SAME ACTORS AND PUT OUT THE FIRST 2 SEASONS, THEN GIVE US LOYAL FANS 6 MONTHS TO WATCH THE 2 SEASONS. MEANWHILE NETFLIX GETS ALL THE ORIGINAL ACTORS AND FILMS A 3RD SEASON WHICH NETFLIX PUTS OUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THEY RELEASED THE FIRST 2 SEASONS. THEN GET ACTING AND FILMING ON A 4TH SEASON!!! THIS SHOW IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! IM STILL SHOCKED THEY CANCELED IT. IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE THE NETWORK WASN’T MARKETING THE SHOW ENOUGH. US FANS THAT WATCHED IT WETE HOOKED! THE STORY LINE KINDA GOT WEIRD BUT I STAYED WITH IT. PLEASE NETFLIX. PICK UP THE SHOW AND RELEASE A 3RD SEASON. YOU’LL BE EVERYBODY’S GO TO NETWORK
Bring it back. I need a season 3. This show was great and I was very sad when they cancelled it 9 years ago. We need a proper ending!!! Long live Revolution
Bring it back.
Great cast. Great writers. Great producers
I love this show I want more, please bring the show back!!!
This is a dam good show,it show how far our government could really go to try and control us with technology and how a handful of them want more power and it backfires and that’s really scary.Bring the show back
Bring it back!!!!
Needs to be brought back, as we need a proper ending. Not good leaving us Hugh and dry.
It’s available to watch on Tubi
It’s gone from Tubi now
Yes please bring revolution back great series
Bring revolution back season 3 was going to get interesting of how the nano bots will control the bad guys Charlie Matheson was my fav character in the series.. and yes of world wide blackout happening its coming just don’t know when but it’s close
The series is one of the top 3 most thought-provoking and high-quality programs I have ever seen in 5 decades of serious television viewing. It should be brought back, whatever it takes. The execs should take a longer-range view of the value of series like this one. It should not have been cancelled. The ratings during initial broadcast should not be the only criterion considered when deciding to renew. Quality endures, as this program has, and enduring quality can be extremely profitable.
My husband and I discovered Revolution on Tubi & it’s fantastic!! We’re coming up on the final 2 episodes & we NEED MORE!! Please bring Revolution back!!!
Just started watching Revolution on Tubi and found out there’s no season 3. Please finish the series.
I just rewatched the entire 2 seasons on Tubi. I searched for over 3 year repeatedly surveying all the streaming app every month or so, but there was a rather large price tag. Magically it appeared on Tubi. I was more than disappointed when I realized that it wasn’t coming back. I’m a big fan of apocalyptic shows and the dynamic elements that involve human nature. Today all we are left with on tv are fake reality shows, and talent shows that are for god-knows-what reason are glorified and on almost every hour of every day via prime time. I’ve come to the conclusion that if a show is thought provoking and requires any higher order thinking skills it gets canned. Does that mean viewers are just getting stupid or writers are just lazy? Not sure but I am tired of crappy programming. If there’s a tv god, please bring Revolution back.
Bring back Revolution, please! Great actors and actresses, story and realization. I can’t believe you just gave up on such a fantastic show. Sad, very sad.
I have a theory as to why it was cancelled.. it was prophetic! It educated us to how corrupt our Government has become and now that they have mandated Covid Vaccine with its nano technoloy. the power they seek to turn off and control is our free will.
Wake up America….
It was a fantastic show! I loved everything about it. I wasn’t aware until today but it is on streaming on Tubi. Im binge watching it right now. It is every bit as good as I remember it. My wife and I We’re both huge fans and she’s not usually a science-fiction person. We were both depressed when it went off.
Revolution was a great show! I could not believe they cancelled it! It goes to show how popular it was because it’s been over seven years since it was cancelled and people are still signing the petition to bring it back and still posting on sites like this about wanting it back! It was a HUGE mistake in cancelling it! It would be a dream come true if it were to come back!!!
Revolution had a lot of “meat” in it! The actors were plausible and real and the story line could happen even today. Please bring back season 3!!! We need the adventure!
I loved the excitement. There is too much crap on tv these days.
Bring revolution back
I own both seasons and would love to see more seasons. This show rocks
Please bring Revolution back it was the best show
Bring revolution series back please.
Bring revolution back