Syfy has canceled “The Expanse” after three seasons of limited linear ratings, and Studio Alcon Entertainment Television is already shopping its show elsewhere, TheWrap has learned.
“‘The Expanse’ transported us across the solar system for three brilliant seasons of television,” NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment President Chris McCumber said in a statement. “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 “The Expanse’s” first run 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 slowly discover 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.