Say Goodbye to Kirsten Dunst’s On Becoming a God in Central Florida—And More Canceled Shows

After initially receiving the season two green light last fall, Showtime’s On Becoming a God in Central Florida, starring Kirsten Dunst, has been given the ax. Here’s why.

By Jonathan Borge Oct 08, 2020 7:05 PMTags
Watch: Kirsten Dunst Loves Saoirse Ronan in the "Little Women" Remake

TV shows are trying to stay alive by the skin of their teeth in 2020.

Just days after Netflix announced the cancelation of Glow, Showtime revealed that it has given the ax to On Becoming a God in Central Florida, the swampy dark comedy that earned Kristen Dunst a 2020 Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy. It was initially renewed for season two in September 2019.

According to the network, pandemic-related complications led to the tough decision.

"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."

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2021 TV Premiere Dates

In addition, the company thanked Dunst, the star and an executive producer, along with creators Robert Funke and Matt Lusky, showrunner Esta Spalding, executive producers George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Charlie McDowell, plus the cast, crew and team at Sony Pictures Television. 

Dunst memorably played Krystal Stubbs, a water park employee that gets caught up in the Founders American Merchandise pyramid scheme, which eventually makes all matters in her life pretty murky.

As a result of the coronavirus, shows such as Netflix's The Society, Teenage Bounty Hunters and I Am Not Okay With This, plus ABC's Stumptown will sadly not continue to keep viewers hooked. 

To keep up with what shows are thriving, scroll for our 2020 guide to all that's been renewed or canceled.  

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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But don't fret: something tells us Dunst will lead another major series in no time.