Snowpiercer proved to be a hit for TNT for several seasons, but it got derailed and cut short during the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery.
What Is It?
This post-apocalyptic series is set aboard a massive, perpetually moving train that carries the last remnants of humanity after Earth is plunged into a global freeze. The train is rigidly divided by class, with the wealthy elite living in luxury at the front and the impoverished masses confined to squalor in the tail. As tensions rise, a revolution brews, led by former detective Andre Layton, who seeks justice and equality for all aboard. Over time, new threats emerge—from both within and outside the train—forcing the passengers to confront the moral costs of survival and the possibility of life beyond the rails.
Aired: TNT/AMC, 2020-24, 3 Seasons Totaling 40 Episodes
Developed By: Josh Friedman, Graeme Manson
Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner, Alison Wright, Iddo Goldberg, Sean Bean
Why Was It Cancelled?
When Snowpiercer arrived on TNT in the spring of 2020, it proved to be a hit for the network, performing quite well for a basic cable series at that time. It received renewal announcements each year through its fourth season, but not long after the latter had been announced, word broke that TNT and TBS would be backing away from scripted programming. That came about due to the merger of Warner Bros. (which owned those two networks) and Discovery, as they were going through cost-cutting measures. And not long after that, the fourth season of Snowpiercer was announced as its last. Whether the show would have continued into further seasons if TNT had remained in the scripted-programming game is unclear, but the decision was made at that point to go ahead and wrap things up with the series.
However, Snowpiercer got further derailed when it was announced in January 2023 that TNT would not air the fourth season so that Warner Bros. Discovery could take a write-down on the show. That final season had already been completed by then, and Tomorrow Studios, which had faith in the franchise, bought back the rights so they could shop it around. They even had plans for a prequel and a sequel series. But then, there was no word on the status of the fourth season for over a year, and fans began to wonder if those final episodes would ever be released.
Finally, in March of 2024, AMC announced that they were picking up the show and would air the final season. The first three seasons premiered on the AMC+ streaming service in June of that year, and the fourth season debuted in July. There was no word on the spin-off shows, though, and the ratings for the final season of Snowpiercer were modest at best. But at least fans did get to see the conclusion that was promised.
Can the Show Be Revived?
The fourth season of Snowpiercer did a good job of wrapping up the main storylines, so it would be very difficult to carry on the show as it was. But as mentioned, Tomorrow Studios had a sequel series and a prequel in the works. So this property still has more territory to explore—and if fans put out the effort, perhaps those spin-offs could still happen.
If fans want more from this franchise, the best thing they can do is start staging watch parties on AMC+, where all four seasons are available. That won’t get it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings (as that company does not yet cover AMC+), but it will get the attention of network execs. Fans should also organize subscription drives to encourage more people to sign up for the streaming service to watch the show, as that will directly impact the bottom line. Purchasing it VOD from sellers like Amazon.com may help as well. If fans do that—and get it trending on social media at the same time—it could spur AMC’s interest in picking up one or more of the spin-offs. Or, if that network decides not to continue the franchise, Tomorrow Studios could shop it around again. There is definitely still more story to tell with this one, and if fans put in enough effort, Snowpiercer may take to the rails again with a sequel and/or prequel series.
Where Can You Watch It?
As mentioned above, all four seasons of the show are available for streaming with a subscription to AMC+. You can also purchase it VOD from sellers like Amazon.com.
Stream or Purchase VOD
Did you watch Snowpiercer and would you support fan efforts to continue the franchise in some form? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.
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