The New Year is upon us and there are plenty of sci fi and fantasy television shows on the way over the next twelve months. But there are also several from past years that fans are not quite done with yet. Below is a look at five genre entries (plus a bonus) that were cancelled too soon and that deserve to return for at least one more season in 2022. For several of these, efforts are already underway to get the show back on the air, for others it may depend on a new or revived push from the fans. We have seen shows such as The Expanse, Lucifer, and Manifest saved in recent years by a Call to Action. So perhaps fans of the shows below could spearhead a return in 2022 or beyond. I have looked at the cancellations and revival chances of all these shows in more detail in prior posts (links included), but I figured that it was definitely worth the effort to stump for them one time as we head into the New Year.
Millennium (1996-99)
Cancelled by FOX after three seasons
This 25-year-old Chris Carter series might be an odd one to have on the list, but there has been momentum towards a revival for some time with support of series star Lance Henriksen as well as Carter himself. FOX cancelled this supernatural procedural after its third season, leaving its story unresolved with a cliffhanger ending (and the crossover with The X-Files the next year provided little in the way of resolution). Since then, Henriksen has supported a return to Frank Black with either a movie or a mini-series that would give the show a proper conclusion. The excellent documentary Millennium after the Millennium looks back at what the series accomplished and also looks forward at the potential for a a revival. Currently, the show is not available for streaming, but if fans start lobbying for its return, it could get added to one of the services and perhaps a final season could follow. Read more about the cancellation and chances for a revival at this link.
Dark Matter (2015-17)
Cancelled by Syfy after three seasons
It has been over four years since Syfy cancelled this space-based drama after three seasons, but the fire among its followers has not died out yet. Coming from Stargate veterans Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, this series never developed a huge audience during its initial run, but it has since turned into somewhat of a sleeper genre entry. Its encore run on Netflix has brought many new fans into the fold, and more and more people want to see the adventures of the crew of the Raza continue. Mallozzi has put together a pitch for a six-episode mini-series that would wrap up the show’s storylines and give it a proper conclusion. And since Dark Matter has performed well on Netflix, it’s possible that streamer could consider taking a flyer on the show. Fans continue to push for this one to return and it is one of the most searched sci fi entries on CancelledSciFi.com. With Mallozzi working to bring the show back, perhaps the story has not ended just yet. Read more about the cancellation and chances for a revival at this link.
Daredevil (2015-19)
Cancelled by Netflix after three seasons
The cancellation of this show in 2019 took its fans by surprise and also set off a raucous campaign with a global reach to bring it back (along with the other Netflix MCU entries like Jessica Jones and Luke Cage). But the property was unfortunately mired in corporate politics as Disney decided it was going to launch its own streaming service while Netflix was cranking through originals with its churn-and-burn model that capped most of its shows off at the three-to-four season mark. Netflix also retained the rights to the characters for two years after the cancellation, which put a blockade on Daredevil making a quick jump to a Disney-owned service. But those rights are back with the House of Mouse and Charlie Cox just made an appearance as Matt Murdock in Spider Man: No Way Home. (Plus, Vincent D’Onofrio reprised his role as Kingpin in the Hawkeye series). So the characters are back in the MCU and fans are continuing to push for a fourth season of the show and more. Read more about the cancellation and chances for a revival at this link.
The OA (2016-19)
Cancelled by Netflix after two seasons
This unique sci fi/paranormal series was somewhat of a slowburn, taking a while for it to develop much of a buzz in the sci fi community. But by its second season, the fans who had stuck with it were definitely hooked and word started to get out that this was a show worth watching. Unfortunately, Netflix chose that time to cancel it because apparently the viewership numbers were not strong enough and they had lost faith in the property. The creators had envisioned a five-year arc for the show, and it was cut short well before it could provide any resolution to its storylines. Fans took to the social networks and lobbied hard for Netflix execs to change their minds or for another venue to pick it up. But the show remained cancelled at two seasons. The rights for this property likely have since reverted to the studio, and fans still have a strong desire for this one to continue. So perhaps 2022 is the year to make a push for The OA to return. Read more about the cancellation and chances for a a revival at this link.
>Keep up with the sci fi and fantasy TV shows airing each week with our Weekly Listings
Origin (2018)
Cancelled by YouTube after one season
The spaced-based series is not well known, and it was unfortunately cut short after one season when YouTube had a change of heart about trying to compete with the big streamers in the originals market. It did not help that Origin did not receive much in the way of promotion, and the show came an went without much notice, unfortunately ending on a rather large cliffhanger. Since then, people have been stumbling across this one as it its still streaming on YouTube, and they are wondering if it will continue (it has become another one of the most-searched shows on our site). But to my knowledge, no campaign has been organized to lobby for another venue to pick up the show. It was being shopped around by its studio, but apparently nothing came from that. But perhaps a Call to Action from the fans could revive interest in this sleeper sci fi series and it could find new life in 2022. Read more about the cancellation and chances for a a revival at this link.
Bonus Entry:
Firefly (2002)
Notoriously Cancelled by FOX after one season
I know this is a pipe dream, but I’m going to include it here anyway. Fans have long hoped for a Firefly revival, but despite a few teases, nothing has happened. Still, revivals are all the rage again (especially on the streaming services), and perhaps there is a chance to bring back the crew of Serenity. Since this property is owned by 20th Century FOX Television, I believe that is now under the Disney umbrella with the buyout of FOX Entertainment. Executive producer Tim Minnear previously said that the best way to do a revival would be to do it as a limited series in order to work around the schedules of the former cast members. And Disney+ has been all about doing event series of late such as WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and The Book of Boba Fett. A Firefly revival would certainly bring plenty of subscribers to Disney+ (or Hulu if it goes to that Disney-owned service). And it could possibly set up more mini-series or movies that could continue the story for a few more years. It certainly would make good business sense, and the House of Mouse is all about making a buck. Firefly turns 20 in 2022, could that be the year it gets a revival?
More from CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Update posts on Fridays. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates.
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What about Travelers?
Didn’t that one wrap up its storylines with its final season? Or did it leave open the possibility that the story could continue?