“The Expanse” may have found new life outside of the Syfy channel.
Amazon Studios is in talks to bring the just-canceled series to its streaming platform, though a deal has not been struck just yet, an individual with knowledge of the discussions tells TheWrap. Amazon Studios declined TheWrap’s request for comment for this story.
If revived, “The Expanse” would get the fourth season that fans have been clamoring for ever since the cable channel announced 10 days ago it would not be renewing the Steven Strait-led drama after three seasons of limited linear ratings.
As TheWrap previously reported, studio Alcon Entertainment Television began shopping its show elsewhere right after Syfy pulled the plug.
“‘The Expanse’ transported us across the solar system for three brilliant seasons of television,” NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment President Chris McCumber said in a statement on May 11. “Everyone at Syfy is a massive fan of the series, and this was an incredibly difficult decision. We want to sincerely thank ‘The Expanse’s’ amazing cast, crew and all the dedicated creatives who helped bring James S.A. Corey’s story to life,” he continued, “And to the series’ loyal fans, we thank you most of all.”
“We are very disappointed the show will not be returning to Syfy,” said Alcon Entertainment co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. “We respect Syfy’s decision to end this partnership but given the commercial and critical success of the show, we fully plan to pursue other opportunities for this terrific and original IP.”
Syfy only held the rights for first run of “The Expanse” on linear television in the U.S., which put a lot of pressure on “live” viewing. Those audiences never came despite an increased marketing budget for the show and experiments with different lead-ins.
The NBCU cable network had even produced a documentary about the series, which aired ahead of Season 2 — but nothing brought Nielsen numbers that anyone would consider “out of this world.”
“The Expanse,” which was created by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, follows a police detective in the asteroid belt, the first officer of an interplanetary ice freighter and an Earth-bound United Nations executive who slowly uncover a vast conspiracy that threatens the Earth’s rebellious colony on the asteroid belt.
The final episode (for now) of “The Expanse” is set to air on Syfy in July.