The Society's Kathryn Newton and Gideon Adlon Sound Off on ''Gut Punch" Series Cancellation

Netflix abruptly decided against moving forward with a second season of the teen drama due to production constraints caused by the pandemic.

By McKenna Aiello Aug 22, 2020 1:28 AMTags
The Society, Olivia Nikkanen, Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Rachel Keller, Salena Qureshi, Jack MulhernRich Fury/Getty Images

Fans of The Society are lamenting its sudden cancellation. 

On Friday, Aug. 21, news broke that Netflix abruptly decided against moving forward with a second season of the teen drama due to production constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to actresses Kathryn Newton and Gideon Adlon, the script was completed and the cast was preparing to begin filming in just a matter of weeks before Netflix pulled the plug. 

"I just got the news this morning and I'm heartbroken, so heartbroken," Kathryn said in an Instagram Live video alongside her co-star. "#SaveTheSociety is trending worldwide and I couldn't be prouder."

Gideon, who is the 23-year-old daughter of actress Pamela Adlon, added, "It's definitely a bit of a gut punch, but like our creator told us today, 'Our show is there. You can watch it all the time. It's not going away and we're not going away.'"

She continued, "It's a big bummer, but this is the way things work sometimes. We have no control over it." 

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Acknowledging The Society's massive fandom, Gideon then reminded viewers that there is "so much more" happening around the world.

"I can't believe how many people loved our show," Kathryn remarked, "So thank you for watching it and falling in love with our characters."

The Society also starred Sean Berdy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jacques Colimon, Olivia DeJonge, Alex Fitzalan, Kristine Froseth, Jose Julian, Alexander MacNicoll, Toby Wallace and Rachel Keller

Keep up with all the latest renewed, canceled, and final season TV news below. 

Canceled: Queen Sono (Netflix)

In December, Netflix canceled its first African original series after previously renewing it for season two. Series creator Kagiso Lediga shared in a statement, "We wrote a beautiful story that spanned the continent but unfortunately could not be executed in these current trying times." Netflix said, "We'll continue to work closely with South Africa's creative industry to keep producing more compelling ‘Made-in-South Africa' stories."

Ending: Black Lightning (The CW)

Black Lightning will end after its fourth and final season airs in February 2021. Showrunner Salim Akil took to Instagram to thank the show's family. "When we first started the Black Lighting journey, I knew that Jefferson Pierce and his family of powerful Black Women would be a unique addition to the super hero genre. The love that Blerds and all comic book fans around the globe have shown this series over the past three seasons proved what we imagined, Black People Want To See Themselves in all their complexities," Akil wrote. Up next? A spinoff named after Painkiller, another character in the DC universe.

Renewed: Woke (Hulu)

Hulu has renewed Woke for a season two.

Renewed: Emily in Paris (Netflix)

Netflix is keeping Emily in Paris for a season two. 

Canceled: The Order (Netflix)

Netflix has canceled the secret society drama The Order after two seasons. 

Renewed: Space Force (Netflix)

Netflix has ordered a second season of the Steve Carell and Greg Daniels comedy.

Renewed: The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

On Nov. 10, Netflix took to Instagram to confirm that The Umbrella Academy will return for season three. According to Variety, production begins in Feb. 2021 in Toronto. Season three will include 10 hour-long episodes. 

Canceled: Castle Rock (Hulu)

In November, Hulu decided to cancel Castle Rock, the horror anthology series based on Stephen King's stories. Season two starred Lizzie Caplan along with Tim Robbins, Yusra Warsama, Barkhad Abdi and Matthew Alan as they adapted King's Misery.

Canceled: Filthy Rich (FOX)

Kim Cattrall's soapy drama about faith, wealth and hot gossip will not be returning after just one season on air. According to Variety, rising production costs amid the coronavirus pandemic contributed to FOX's decision. 

 

Canceled: Next (FOX)

Starring John Slattery, Next followed an intelligence team in charge of stopping a rogue AI. FOX gave it the boot in November.

 

Renewed: Narcos: Mexico (Netflix)

In October, Netflix confirmed that Narcos: Mexico will return for season three without Diego Luna. The official description for the new season reads as follows:

"Set in the 90s, when the globalization of the drug business ignites, season 3 examines the war that breaks out after Felix's empire splinters. As newly independent cartels struggle to survive political upheaval and escalating violence, a new generation of Mexican kingpins emerge. But in this war, truth is the first casualty—and every arrest, murder and take-down only pushes real victory further away."

The cast will include Scoot McNairy, José  Maria Yazpik, Alberto Ammann, Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Hermosillo, Matt Letscher, Manuel Masalva, Alejandro Edda and Gorka Lasaosa.

Canceled: Away (Netflix)

Hilary Swank's space mission series Away was given the chop just weeks after its Sept. 4 premiere. Following the news, Swank took to Instagram to thank fans for watching. "Love and hope will always remain my ‘North Star," she wrote. "And thank YOU to all my extraordinary followers who watched and supported our beautiful show. Wish we were showing you Mars! Until the next one."

Ending: Last Man Standing (Fox)

Four years after it was canceled on ABC and three years after it returned on Fox, Last Man Standing will end after nine seasons in 2021. 

Canceled: On Becoming a God in Central Florida (Showtime)

Though it was initially renewed for season two in September 2019, Showtime gave Kirsten Dunst's show the ax in October.

"Last year, Showtime renewed On Becoming a God in Central Florida but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we were unable to move forward with production on the new season," Showtime said in a statement to E! News. "The pandemic has continued to challenge schedules across the board, and although we have made every effort to reunite the cast and crew for a second season, that has become untenable. It is with great regret that we are acknowledging On Becoming a God will not return."

Canceled: Glow (Netflix)

Despite having been renewed for a fourth and final season, Glow won't be returning after all. A Netflix spokesperson said that the streaming site decided not to do a fourth season "due to COVID, which makes shooting this physically intimate show with its large ensemble cast especially challenging." 

Canceled: Teenage Bounty Hunters (Netflix)

Teenage Bounty Hunters was canceled after one season at Netflix—another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ending: Supergirl (The CW)

Supergirl will come to an end after season six, which will premiere midseason in 2021. 

Canceled: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix)

Netflix has canceled its Dark Crystal adaptation after one season. 

Canceled: Stumptown (ABC)

Despite a renewal in May 2020, Stumptown has become a casualty of the pandemic and will not be returning to ABC for a season two. 

Canceled: United We Fall (ABC)

ABC introduced the new comedy in July, but it was given the ax after one season and eight episodes on air. 

Renewed: Selena + Chef (HBO Max)

Selena Gomez will be cooking with more chefs in her home kitchen in a second season on HBO Max. 

Canceled: Altered Carbon (Netflix)

Netflix has said goodbye to the drama after two seasons. 

Canceled: The Society (Netflix)

Netflix renewed the teen drama in July 2019, but no new scripts had been finished. Due to the pandemic and the uncertainty of production dates and cast availability, the streamer had to let go to the popular show. 

Canceled: I Am Not Okay With This (Netflix)

The Netflix drama was quietly renewed for a second season and then canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which would have made filming complicated and costly. 

Canceled: High Fidelity (Hulu)

Hulu has said goodbye to the Zoe Kravitz-starring adaptation after one season. 

Renewed: Taste the Nation (Hulu)

Padma Lakshmi will be back to make us all hungry in a season two! 

Renewed: Love, Victor (Hulu)

Hulu has ordered a second season of the Love, Simon follow up. 

Canceled: Siren (Freeform)

Freeform has canceled the mermaid drama after three seasons. 

Renewed: Stargirl (The CW)

Not only has Stargirl been renewed for a second season, but it's officially making the move from DC Universe to The CW. 

Renewed: The Boys (Amazon)

The anti-superhero drama will return for a season three on Amazon Prime Video. 

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Season one of The Society is streaming now on Netflix.