
Netflix's dark comedy series 'Santa Clarita Diet' starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant was cancelled in 2019 after three seasons due to a complicated budget model. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, has shared that he would have loved to do a fourth season and even has some ideas for it. While Netflix is unlikely to renew the show, Fresco is hopeful that if the show starts being watched in large numbers, Netflix might reconsider its decision.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of seasons released | 3 |
| Streaming platform | Netflix |
| Genre | Zombie comedy-drama |
| Plot | A married couple living in suburbia until the wife dies and wakes up as a zombie |
| Main cast | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Cancellation reason | Complicated budget model, low viewership |
| Chances of revival | Unlikely, but possible if there is enough viewer interest |
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What You'll Learn
- Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled by Netflix after three seasons
- The show's creator would love a fourth season and already has ideas
- Netflix's decision to cancel the show was influenced by its complicated budget model
- The show's cult following and critical acclaim were not enough to justify its renewal
- Netflix's focus on immediate binge-watching data may have contributed to the cancellation

Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled by Netflix after three seasons
Fans of the horror-comedy series *Santa Clarita Diet* were left disappointed when Netflix cancelled the show after three seasons. The series, which debuted in 2017, starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as married real estate agents Sheila and Joel Hammond, who live in suburbia. One day, Sheila dies and wakes up as a zombie with a taste for human flesh.
The show was met with solid initial reactions and garnered largely positive reviews from critics. It also built a strong cult following, with fans praising its humour and storytelling. Despite this, Netflix made the decision to cancel the series, a move that left fans disappointed and wanting more.
The show's creator, Victor Fresco, has shared that he felt for the fans who were left disappointed by the cancellation. He also revealed that there were online petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures from fans hoping to save the show. Fresco has also stated that he would love to do a fourth season and has some ideas for what the plot would entail. He told LADbible:
> ' [A fourth season is] something I think we all would want to do if everyone was available. Emotionally, everyone on the show would love to do some kind of closure.'
Fresco also shared that he wanted to explore a season where "Joel and Sheila are in the same boat", referring to the third season's cliffhanger ending where Sheila seemingly bites Joel to save his life, turning him into a zombie as well.
While there is a possibility that the show could be revived if enough people watch it and boost its completion rate, it seems unlikely that a fourth season will happen anytime soon. Barrymore has since moved on to other projects, including her eponymous talk show, while Olyphant has appeared in *The Mandalorian*.
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The show's creator would love a fourth season and already has ideas
Fans of the Netflix horror-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet were left disappointed when the show was cancelled after three seasons. The show, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as suburban real estate agents, had amassed a loyal fan base that praised its humour and storytelling.
Despite the show's popularity, Netflix pulled the plug on Santa Clarita Diet due to a complicated budget model. The show's sudden cancellation left fans with many unanswered questions, as season 3 ended on a cliffhanger with Sheila seemingly biting her husband, Joel, to save his life and turn him into a zombie like herself.
In the face of this disappointment, there is a glimmer of hope for fans of the show. The creator of Santa Clarita Diet, Victor Fresco, has expressed his love for the show and his desire to create a fourth season. In an interview, Fresco shared his ideas for a potential new season, saying:
> "We thought it would be fun to do a season with Joel and Sheila in the same boat—what that would look like. I feel like this would be better for us and better for our fans too."
Fresco also acknowledged the impact of the show's cancellation on its dedicated fan base, stating that he felt bad for getting people emotionally invested in the show only to have the "rug pulled from under them".
While the future of Santa Clarita Diet remains uncertain, Fresco's passion for the show and his desire to provide closure for its fans offer a ray of hope for a potential revival.
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Netflix's decision to cancel the show was influenced by its complicated budget model
Netflix's decision to cancel Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons was influenced by a variety of factors, including a complicated budget model. While the exact budget for the show is not publicly known, it is likely that the costs of producing the show played a significant role in Netflix's decision to cancel it.
Netflix operates within a complex budget model, and the company has been known to cancel shows that are deemed too expensive. Santa Clarita Diet, a dark comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, built a strong cult following during its three seasons. However, the show's production costs may have become unsustainable for Netflix, especially if the show failed to attract a large enough audience to justify the expenses.
Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, commented on the decision-making process behind cancelling shows, stating that it is a combination of factors. She explained that Netflix decides how much to invest in a show based on the expected audience size. If the audience turnout is lower than anticipated, Netflix may choose to cut their losses and cancel the show rather than continue investing in something that is not performing as well as hoped.
In the case of Santa Clarita Diet, the show's producers and cast had expressed their love for the series and their willingness to return for another season. However, Netflix ultimately decided that the show was not worth the investment, suggesting that the show's costs outweighed the potential benefits. This decision may have been influenced by the fact that Netflix typically pays for a show's production costs upfront, and these costs can become increasingly expensive after multiple seasons.
While Netflix's cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet disappointed many fans, it is important to note that the show might not be completely dead and buried. Netflix has revived other cancelled shows in the past, such as Lucifer, and there is a possibility that Santa Clarita Diet could be resurrected if viewership increases and Netflix deems it financially viable.
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The show's cult following and critical acclaim were not enough to justify its renewal
Netflix's decision to cancel Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons came as a disappointment to the show's loyal fanbase, who had praised its humour and storytelling. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, also expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the strong cult following and critical acclaim that the show had garnered. Despite this, Netflix deemed the show too expensive to continue, citing a "complicated budget model" as the primary reason for its cancellation.
Santa Clarita Diet, which debuted in February 2017, was one of the earlier streaming series before the launch of competitors such as Disney+ and Apple TV+. The show, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as married real estate agents, offered a unique blend of comedy and horror, with Barrymore's character, Sheila, experiencing a craving for human flesh after dying and turning into a zombie.
While the show received solid initial reactions and largely positive reviews, Netflix's decision to cancel it left fans with a cliffhanger ending. Fresco revealed that he had anticipated the cancellation, which influenced his decision to end the third season on a cliffhanger, making it more challenging for Netflix to conclude the series.
In the competitive entertainment landscape, Netflix prioritises immediate binge-watching behaviour, and the show's performance did not meet their renewal criteria. Netflix's business model, with a focus on rapid content production and a vast catalogue of titles, makes it challenging for individual shows to stand out and secure renewal. Despite the show's cult following and critical acclaim, these factors were not enough to justify its continuation, highlighting the challenges faced by streaming shows in achieving extended runs compared to traditional broadcast networks.
Although a revival remains possible, especially if viewership increases and the cast and producers are willing to return, Netflix currently seems uninterested in providing closure to the show's dedicated fans. The cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry, where even popular and well-received shows can fall victim to complex budgetary considerations and the evolving strategies of streaming platforms.
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Netflix's focus on immediate binge-watching data may have contributed to the cancellation
Netflix's decision to cancel 'Santa Clarita Diet' after three seasons came as a disappointment to the show's creators and fans alike. While the exact reasons for the cancellation remain unknown, Netflix's focus on immediate binge-watching data and its complex budget model may have played a role.
Netflix is known for its tight-lipped approach regarding viewership data, but it has been speculated that the company makes decisions based on the "'completion rate'" of a show. This means that Netflix values a high percentage of viewers who watch a show to completion, rather than just the total number of viewers. In the case of 'Santa Clarita Diet', it is possible that the show did not meet Netflix's expectations for binge-watching behaviour.
The show's producer, Tracy Katsky Boomer, expressed sadness about the cancellation, stating that they had loved working on the show. Creator Victor Fresco and Katsky also shared their disappointment, thanking the cast and crew for their contributions. They took a swipe at Netflix, however, for leaving fans with unresolved cliffhangers.
The cancellation of 'Santa Clarita Diet' can also be attributed to Netflix's complicated budget model. Netflix typically pays for a series' production costs upfront, but these costs can become unsustainable after the third season unless the show is a major breakout success. 'Santa Clarita Diet' may have fallen victim to this model, as Netflix deemed it was not getting enough "bang for its buck". The show's unique premise and blend of comedy and zombie horror may have been a challenge to sustain over multiple seasons.
While a fourth season of 'Santa Clarita Diet' seems unlikely in the near future, especially with the lead actors busy with other projects, fans can hold out hope for a potential revival. Netflix has revived other shows in the past, such as 'Lucifer', and if 'Santa Clarita Diet' gains enough traction and viewership on the platform, there is a chance that Netflix could reconsider its decision.
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Frequently asked questions
Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet in 2019 after three seasons due to a complicated budget model. There are currently no plans for more episodes.
Netflix cancelled the show due to a complicated budget model. The creator of the show, Victor Fresco, also believes that the positive critical reception and loyal fanbase were not enough to justify a renewal and the pay increases that would follow.
Although there are currently no plans for more episodes, Netflix might reconsider Season 4 if the show starts being watched in large numbers and those audiences watch the series all the way through.









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