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
Loki (Disney+, Streaming 2nd Season, Renewal Possible): This series made it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings at Number 6 for the week of its Season 2 premiere with an estimated 446 million minutes of viewing. Kevin Fiege has said that the first two seasons were designed to tell a whole story, but there is still the possibility that other stories could follow. If the viewership numbers for the second season remain strong, this one could return for a third year. But it will have to get worked into the very busy MCU schedule.
SurrealEstate (Syfy, Airing 2nd Season, On the Bubble): The ratings for this show remain quite low, though the total viewership increased this past week despite the fact that it no longer has a lead-in from Chucky (that one is on hiatus). I still consider it very much On the Bubble at this point and fans should certainly make a Call to Action on the social networks to help it out. Otherwise, it could get cancelled a second time by Syfy.
Invasion (Apple TV+, Completed 2nd Season, Renewal Possible): This series did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings during its second season, but Apple TV+ shows rarely make it to that chart. That streamer has been supportive of its originals, and showrunner Simon Kinberg has indicated that writing has already begun on a possible third season. But it certainly would not hurt for fans of the show to make some noise on the social networks to help it stick around for another year or so.
The Swarm (CW, Completed 1st Season, Renewal Possible): This show has wrapped up its first season on The CW, and while it started out with decent numbers for that network, the ratings did slip across its eight-week run. This is an acquisition, though, and the viewership in the U.S. will not dictate its fate. It has performed well overseas, and there are talks of more seasons, so it is possible this one could return for a second year.
You can see the status of all the shows from the current season at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
This past week brought a renewal for Futurama, but that counts back to the 2022-23 season. In addition, The CW announced that the upcoming fourth season of Superman & Lois will be its last and that will count against the current tally. That brings the 2023-24 season to four cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy shows (13% of shows tracked) vs. eleven renewals (35%). 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 | 31 | ||
| Cancelled | 2 | 6.5% | |
| Ending | 2 | 6.5% | 12.9% |
| Renewed | 11 | 35.5% | |
| On the Bubble | 2 | 6.5% | |
| Renewal Possible | 14 | 45.2% | |
| Mini-Series | 2 |
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.
