All of the Cancelled and Ending Sci Fi TV Shows from the 2023-24 Season (So Far)

Updated 4/15/2024

We are approaching the end of the broadcast network regular season, so now is a good time to take a look at the cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy shows as well as those that are currently struggling. There have been fewer cancellations than I expected so far in the midst of the Peak TV Crunch, and with the impacts of the strikes taking their toll. Only six shows have been sent to the network executioner so far with four more ending this season (see the full breakout below). Last year started slow for cancellations as well, but things kicked into high gear by this point and I am expecting more announcements over the next month or so.  The Upfronts will start soon–when the networks and streaming services will be presenting their schedules for the coming season–so cancellation and renewal decisions will need to be made

Below is the rundown of the shows that we know for certain are ending this season (including mini-series), and further down I cover the ones that are currently On the Bubble.  I have also included two 2022-23 entries that have since been updated to ending status.  Note that while shows like Andor (Disney+), The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), and Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+) are ending with their upcoming seasons, I don’t expect those to arrive until the 2024-25 season due to strike-related delays, so they are not included in this round-up.

The Cancellation/Renewal Score for the 2023-24 season stands at 10 cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy shows (19% of the shows tracked) vs. 21 renewed (40%).  Mini-series are not included in the tally since they were designed to run one season.  Below are the season’s numbers, and you can see the full list of shows and keep up with the score throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.

For fans who want to help any of the cancelled/ending shows (or the ones On the Bubble), a Call to Action on the social networks would be a good place to start.  And you can also vote in our Spring 2024 Save My Show poll.  We have seen other shows like The Expanse, Lucifer, and Manifest saved in the past, and it could happen again with one of the recently cancelled shows.  And be sure to stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Page for status updates and breaking news.

See all the upcoming sci fi and fantasy TV premieres at this link and keep up with the weekly schedule at this link.

Cancelled and Ending Shows:

Bodies (Netflix, Mini-Series):  This series is based on the DC Comic of the same name, and the final moments tease a possible continuation. However, writer Paul Tomalin has claimed that it was pitched to Netflix as a “one and done” series with no plans for a second season. It has performed well in viewership, though, so don’t be surprised if the streamer chooses to revisit that decision.

Carol and the End of the World (Netflix, Mini-Series): This animated apocalyptic drama was designed to tell a full story across its ten episodes according to creator Dan Guterman. It did not make it into the Netflix Top 10 after its premiere, so expect this show to remain a one-shot as intended.

Echo (Disney+, Mini-Series): This series is part of the “Marvel Spotlight” banner which emphasizes stand-alone seasons with minimal connection to other MCU movies and shows. And this appears to be the approach Disney+ will be taking with this franchise as well as its Star Wars shows (see Tales of the Empire below) going forward. However, the characters from Echo could show up in other MCU shows (most likely Daredevil) or in one or more of the movies, and perhaps this one could make its way back to the streamer for a second season at some point.

Cult-SciFi.com: Looking Back at Cult Movies, TV Shows, Books, and More from the Worlds of Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Horror

Evil (Paramount+, Cancelled After 4 Seasons): Had this show remained on CBS, it probably would have been cancelled already by this point, so consider it a good thing that it shifted to Paramount+.  And ultimately it will end up with a decent run for a streaming series at four seasons and fifty episodes. It is getting four additional episodes tacked on to the planned fourth season (which premieres in May) and that will give the creative team the opportunity to wrap up its storylines and provide a satisfying conclusion.

Disenchantment (Netflix, Ending After 5 Seasons): This animated dramedy from Matt Groening had a good run for a streaming original, totaling five seasons and fifty episodes (sometimes referred to as three seasons broken across five parts). But Groening did have plans for further adventures in the Disenchantment world, so he may try to shop this one around to different venues. Netflix keeps the streaming rights for a minimum of two years after the show ended, but like Futurama this one could find a new home at some point down the road.

The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix, Mini-Series): This adaptation of the classic Edgar Allen Poe story came from Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) and it was designed as a mini-series, though it is possible that he planned for more Poe-related shows to follow. He has since moved over to Amazon, but House did well enough in viewership that Netflix may try to create its own Poe-verse of originals.

Hello Tomorrow! (Apple TV+, Ending after One Season): This retro-series from the 2022-23 season did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings nor did it garner much acclaim. The showrunners do have plans for a second season, but there has been no word on its fate a year after it wrapped, so I am going to count it as ended. Perhaps a continuation could still happen at some point, but for now it appears that this has become another one-and-done casualty of the Peak TV crunch.

La Brea (NBC, Ending After 3 Seasons): This prehistoric adventure series counted as a minor hit for NBC in its first year, ranking in the Top 30 for its inaugural run. Its numbers dropped notably during its second season, but apparently it did well enough in digital and delayed viewing that the network decided to give it the greenlight for a final six-episode season. That gave it the chance to wrap up its storylines, which is more than the network afforded Quantum Leap (see below).

For status updates on the current sci fi and fantasy shows along with breaking news on cancellations and renewals, follow our Cancellation Watch posts.

Nautilus (Disney+/AMC, Cancelled Before It Began): This Captain Nemo prequel series is one of two Disney+ shows that were completed but cancelled by the streamer so that the company could count them as write-downs for tax purposes (more on that at this link).  AMC has since picked the series up and will air it as a “special television event” in 2024 (it will also be available for streaming on AMC+), but that is likely just a burn-off run with little chance of a second season following.

The Power (Prime Video, Ending After One Season): This 2022-23 season entry did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for its first-year run, nor did it get much attention. Members of the cast have indicated that they would like to return for a second season, but there has been no word on its fate a year after it premiered. At this point, I am considering it a one-and-done casualty of the Peak TV Crunch, though perhaps it could make a surprise return at some point.

Quantum Leap (NBC, Cancelled After 2 Seasons): By all appearances, NBC seems to have just soured on this show and decided to cancel it instead of giving it a concluding season as they did with La Brea (see above). It performed well in Fall 2023, but when it returned from hiatus in January they moved it to the Tuesday 10 PM EST timeslot where the ratings plummeted and it was cancelled. Now they have a long-running franchise, going back to the original, with two separate entries that end without a resolution. Sure seems like a final season where they bring both Sam and Ben back would have been the better choice and provided a more satisfying resolution for encore runs. Fans are fighting for the show, but it will be an uphill battle since the network seems to have given up on it.

Shining Vale (Starz, Cancelled after 2 Seasons): This supernatural comedy arrived on Starz with little fanfare and never developed much of an audience. Despite low viewership in its first year, it did get a second-season nod, but when it returned the show barely registered in the ratings. Starz decided to cancel it at that point, but there are plans for a third season and it has been shopped around. There has been no further word on the show, though, so it looks like this one could be done

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Disney+/Roku Channel, Cancelled Before It Began): Like Nautilus above, this adaptation of the beloved children’s books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black got caught up in the content removal plan at Disney+ and was pulled before streaming its first season. Paramount shopped the series around and The Roku Channel has since picked it up, but that will almost certainly be a burn-off run of the completed first season. The property has plenty more stories to tell, though, so maybe a second season could happen if it proves popular.

For the weekly schedule of sci fi and fantasy shows along with news and the latest trailers, follow our Sci Fi TV Highlights posts.

Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+, Ending After 5 Seasons): At five seasons and 65 episodes, that is quite a good run for a streaming original these days, especially for a show that was so divisive among fans of the franchise. It will get the chance to wrap up its storylines, and there is still a possibility that the characters could crossover with Strange New Worlds or other Trek shows going forward, or maybe even return for a movie or two.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (Disney+, Mini-Series): This show is a followup to Tales of the Jedi and the second installment of Dave Filoni’s “Tales of” season-long anthology.  These will be approached as close-ended mini-series, though there is always the possibility that they could revisit prior stories and characters. Disney+ seems to prefer this stand-alone approach (see Echo above), and we may see more of this from the television entries for its major franchises.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+, Ending After 3 Seasons): This spin-off from Star Wars: The Clone Wars will not enjoy as long of a run as the parent series, but three seasons and 47 episodes is a good tenure for a streaming original. Disney+ is going through some cost-cutting and seems to have lost some faith in the Star Wars franchise, and it may go the mini-series route with the property going forward (see Tales of the Empire above). But The Bad Batch was still well-received and we could see a return of these characters at some point in the future.

Superman & Lois (CW, Cancelled after 4 Seasons): This Arrow-verse-linked show has been done wrong by both The CW and Warner Bros. Discovery. It was consistently one of the top-rated shows on The CW through its first three seasons, but it does not fit in that network’s new direction focusing on low-cost acquisitions. It was renewed for a fourth season, but that will only be ten episodes and its budget has been slashed meaning that many of the regulars will get cut or reduced to minor roles. Warner Bros. Discovery should have just moved it over to Max where it could have run for several more seasons and put together enough episodes for a syndication run (where shows really turn a profit). But they are rebooting their DC properties, so this one did not fit in with their new direction. Now, a once-promising superhero entry will go out with a whimper as will the Arrow-verse. You can see my suggestions on a better way to wrap up that franchise at this link, and fans should continue to stump for more seasons of Superman & Lois.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC, Mini-Series): This show was planned as a mini-series, but it is the highest-rated of the TWD spin-offs going back to The World Beyond. Showrunner Scott Gimple did tease a possible second season, so there is still a chance it could return and potentially crossover with shows Dead City and Daryl Dixon (both of those were renewed for a second season). But for now I am considering it ended.

On the Bubble:

Below are the shows from the current season (plus one straggler from last year) that I currently have at Bubble status.  These could certainly use some support from fans on the social nets as the execs at the broadcast networks and streaming services work to solidify their lineups for the coming 2024-25 season.

Not Dead Yet (ABC, Airing 2nd Season, On the Bubble): The numbers for this supernatural comedy are down year-over-year and it is also losing a fair amount of the audience each week from its lead-in The Conners. In addition, its second-season episode order was cut to only ten eps which is not a good sign. That may be due to the strikes that cut into production time, but I am not liking this one’s chances for a third season at this point.

Pluto (Netflix, Completed 1st Season, On the Bubble): This Anime entry did not make it into the Netflix Top 10 during its first season run, but it was well-received by critics and viewers, holding a 100% Fresh Rating and 94% Audience Score so far on Rotten Tomatoes.  The eight-episode first season adapted the full story from the Manga, though, so it is unclear if there are plans to continue it beyond that point and it may end as a one-shot Netflix entry.

Scavengers Reign (Max, Completed 1st Season, On the Bubble): This animated sci fi series did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings during its first season run, but it has been getting very high marks from critics and viewers, currently holding a 100% Fresh Rating and 96% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. While the first season did tell a complete story, executive producers Sean Buckelew and James Merrill have indicated that they have mapped out two more seasons for the show.  But with Warner Bros. Discovery in talks with Paramount about merging, more shakeups could be on the way and I don’t like this one’s chances amidst all of that.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Netflix, Completed 1st Season, On the Bubble): This show made it into the Netflix Top 10 for only one week, and according to creators Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski, they consider the first season to be one-and-done and currently have no ideas for a second year of the show. They have not completely ruled out a continuation, but its chances for a return look slim at this point.

Skull Island (Netflix, Completed 1st Season, On the Bubble):  This 2022-23 series–which is a tie-in to Legendary’s MonsterVerse franchise–did not make it into the Netflix Top 10 during its first season run. Showrunner Brian Duffield has indicated that scripts have been written for the second season of the show and some initial recording has occurred, but there has not been a renewal announcement yet so the one season may be all it gets.

Strange Planet (Apple TV+, Completed 1st Season, On the Bubble): This show came and went with very little fanfare and did not make any noise in the streaming charts. Apple TV+ has been good about supporting its originals, but it’s possible this one could get lost in the Peak TV Crunch and disappear after its one-season run.

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

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