NBC Cancels ‘Manifest’ After 3 Seasons
NBC has grounded Montego Air Flight 828, as the network announces ‘Manifest‘ has been cancelled after three seasons.
‘Manifest’ followed a turbulent but routine flight of the crew and passengers of Flight 828. However, when they disembarked they found the world had aged five-and-a-half years and their friends, families and colleagues had given up hope of ever seeing them again. Faced with the impossible, the passengers’ dreams of a second chance at life evaporated as they encounter the imminent danger surrounding them, both tangible and unexplained. But as their new realities become clear, a deeper mystery unfolds, and some of the returned passengers soon realise they might be meant for something greater than they ever thought possible.
The series was one of four shows which NBC had left “on the bubble” following the traditional Upfronts Bloodbath, alongside ‘Debris’, ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ and ‘Good Girls’. Out of the four, ‘Good Girls’ is the only one left without a decision at the moment, with the other three all now cancelled.
Out of those four, ‘Manifest’ actually had the highest ratings by quite some margin, sitting somewhere mid-table in the network ratings, above already renewed shows such as ‘New Amsterdam’ and ‘The Blacklist’. However, the series also had a problem… It is made by WBTV, an outside studio, not NBC itself, meaning there is a higher cost and lower return for NBC than there would be if it owned the show outright. So, despite the higher ratings, it didn’t make financial sense for NBC to keep it going.
All may not be lost, as creator and showrunner Jeff Rake had already laid out a six-season plan for the drama, so there is plenty of story left to tell. He is hoping they can sell the show to someone else.
“My dear Manifesters, I’m devastated by NBC’s decision to cancel us,” commented Rake on Twitter last night. “That we’ve been shut down in the middle is a gut punch to say the least. Hoping to find a new home. You the fans deserve an ending to your story. Thanks for the love shown to me, cast, and crew. #savemanifest.”
Given it is a WBTV series, the obvious option would be to try and get HBO Max to take on the drama, or possibly The CW. However, HBO Max recently opted not to rescue ‘Prodigal Son’, the WBTV drama cancelled by FOX, so there really on no guarantees. We will, of course, let you know if someone else decides to let ‘Manifest’ fly again.
‘Manifest‘ 3rd (and currently, final) Season is due to land in July 2021 on Sky One. Seasons 1 and 2 are available now via Sky One Demand and the NOW streaming service.
