Cancellation Watch: The Sandman Enters the Nielsen Top 10, Nautilus Ascends for AMC, and More

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

The Sandman (Netflix, Status: Cancelled): This show returned to the Netflix Top 10 with its second season, ranking at the Number 2 slot with 28 million hours viewed across 5.3 million households. But that is down by more than half from the 69 million hours viewed for its Season 1 premiere and suggests interest in the show has dropped. This is an expensive show to produce and this would have had it on shaky ground, but Netflix has already pulled the plug on the series. If fans are hoping to change the streamer’s mind about the cancellation, they will need to start with making a Call to Action on the social networks to get more people watching the show.

Nautilus (AMC, Status: Cancelled): Sunday’s numbers for this show have not been posted yet because Nielsen is running behind, but when the Live+3 numbers are factored in for the premiere the prior week, it counts as the best showing for a new series on AMC since The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Lived had its debut in February 2025. However, I don’t believe that will change this show’s status. It was cancelled by Disney+ before it aired and shopped around to other venues for a burn-off run with AMC taking a flyer on the show. But I believe the Mouse House was approaching it as a mini-series to begin with, and it is unlikely that AMC could afford to fund a second season. Still, fans should make some noise to lobby for the show–which has been well-received so far–and perhaps the cable network will seek out a partner to keep this one going.

Grotesquerie (FX, Status: On the Bubble): There has still been no word on this horror entry, and a second season has not appeared in the Production Weekly listings. Typically, FX would have greenlit that by the beginning of the year in order for the season to be ready by Fall, but nothing appears to be moving forward. The ratings numbers for the show were decent, but not spectacular, but this one ended on a cliffhanger and a second season is planned. I am moving it to Bubble status, and fans should definitely make some noise on the social networks if they want the show to stick around.

Doctor Who (Disney+/BBC, Status: On the Bubble): There still has been no word on this show, and according to Doctor Who insider Tom Spilsbury–a journalist and writer with close ties to the show’s production–it could be a while before anything moves forward:

I suspect the show will indeed come back at some point, but as of right now, nothing is commissioned and nothing is guaranteed. Those are the facts. Time will tell, of course, but I don’t get the sense of much optimism for anything very soon from anyone I’ve spoken to.

He went on to note that if Disney does not renew their contract with the show, the BBC will then have to take time looking for a partner to help with financing the show. The final episode definitely delivered a blockbuster cliffhanger, but it could be a few years before that is resolved.

You can keep up with the status of all the current sci fi and fantasy shows at our Cancellation Watch Page.

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Cancellation/Renewal Score:

The networks and streaming services have been quiet on renewals and cancellations over the past few weeks, but I expect several renewal notices by the end of the month coming out of Comic Con. As the 2024-25 season winds down, we are at 28 renewed sci fi and fantasy entries (46% of shows tracked) vs. 17 cancelled and ending (28%). Below are this season’s numbers, and you can see the list of shows and keep up with the score for the current and prior seasons throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.

Keep up with the status of all the current sci fi and fantasy shows as well as news and updates on new and upcoming shows at CancelledSciFi.com.

Cancellation Watch: Status updates and breaking news on renewals and cancellations

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