Jeffrey Salazar
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, was cancelled in 2019 after three seasons due to a complicated cost-plus budget model. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, was disappointed and felt that the show's niche audience and critical acclaim should have justified a renewal. Despite the cancellation, Fresco has expressed interest in reviving the series, and Netflix has been known to renew shows based on audience demand. However, as of 2024, there has been no official announcement of a season 4 renewal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of seasons | 3 |
| Renewal status | Cancelled |
| Reason for cancellation | Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model |
| Future possibilities | Revival possible if viewership warrants it |
| Creator's opinion | Creator Victor Fresco would love a season 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Clarita Diet's cancellation
Netflix's decision to cancel Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons came as a shock to many fans, who were left disappointed and demanding answers. The streaming giant's notoriously secretive approach to viewing figures left fans in the dark about the show's performance, but it is speculated that the cancellation was due to a complicated "cost-plus" budget model. Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, commented that their investment decisions are based on the expected audience turnout and the potential for critical acclaim.
Santa Clarita Diet's creator, Victor Fresco, expressed his disappointment in the cancellation, feeling that he had let down the show's loyal fanbase. He also revealed that he learned of the cancellation from an assistant producer, who told him the sets were being dismantled. Despite the show's solid initial reactions, positive reviews, and strong cult following, it appears that Netflix did not see enough potential in the show to continue past three seasons.
Fresco has stated that he would love to do a fourth season to provide closure for the cast and fans, and he already has ideas for how the story could develop. He hinted at plans to explore Abby and Eric's relationship, with Abby now hunting the undead since both her parents are undead. Fresco also suggested that Joel's attitude could change following his transformation, creating a new dynamic for the couple. However, the possibility of a revival seems unlikely in the near future, as Drew Barrymore is busy with her talk show, and Timothy Olyphant has been involved in other projects, such as The Mandalorian.
While fans may never get the closure they desire, Netflix has been known to revive shows based on audience demand, so there is always a chance that Santa Clarita Diet could make a comeback in the future.
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Reasons for cancellation
Netflix's decision to cancel Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons came as a shock to many fans, who were left with unanswered questions and loose ends. Despite the show's strong cult following and critical acclaim, there were a few reasons behind its cancellation.
Firstly, Netflix's "`cost-plus`" budget model" played a significant role in the show's cancellation. The streaming giant's approach to covering production costs and acquiring licensing rights differs from traditional television networks. Netflix typically offers to cover all production costs plus around 30% extra to own most of the licensing rights. This means that future revenue opportunities for successful shows primarily benefit Netflix. However, if a show does not resonate with viewers, Netflix may find itself out of pocket. In the case of Santa Clarita Diet, it appears that the show's viewership and popularity did not outweigh the production costs, leading Netflix to discontinue it.
Secondly, Netflix's decision-making process considers immediate binge-watching behaviour. The platform assesses audience turnout and critical acclaim when determining whether to renew or cancel a show. If a significant audience does not show up promptly, Netflix may decide not to invest further in the show. Santa Clarita Diet may have fallen victim to this metric, as it takes into account only the initial binge-watching period, potentially disregarding viewers who discover and watch the show at a later date.
Additionally, the show's creator, Victor Fresco, acknowledged that the niche audience for Santa Clarita Diet might not have been enough to justify a renewal and the associated pay increases for cast and crew. He also mentioned that Netflix's model creates a disincentive for ordering seasons four and five due to the substantial payouts involved.
Lastly, the cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet aligns with Netflix's general trend of not continuing shows past three seasons, with only a few exceptions for breakout hits. The platform tends to favour shorter runs, and shows that do not achieve massive success within the first three seasons are often discontinued.
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Fanbase reaction
Fans of Santa Clarita Diet were left disappointed and angry when the show was cancelled after three seasons. The show had amassed a loyal fanbase who praised its humour and storytelling. There were online petitions and social media campaigns calling for the show to be renewed, with hundreds of thousands of people signing.
The show's creator, Victor Fresco, shared his disappointment in the decision and expressed his sympathy for the fans, saying:
> "There were online petitions. Hundreds of thousands of people signed. I felt badly because your job as a writer is to get people invested in your show emotionally. We did that and then the rug was pulled from under them. It was a hard thing to process."
Despite the willingness of those who made the show a reality, Netflix does not seem interested in giving fans any closure. However, Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand, so a revival of Santa Clarita Diet is not entirely out of the question.
Liv Hewson, who played Abby in the show, has said that she would love to return for a fourth season, but it would require a time jump as she is now 26, whereas the character she played was 16 when the show started.
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Potential revival
Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled by Netflix in 2019 after three seasons due to a "cost-plus" budget model. Netflix's decision to cancel the show was based on audience turnout and critical acclaim. The show's fanbase was understandably upset and wanted answers, but Netflix rarely discloses anything about what happens behind the scenes. Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, commented on the cancellation, stating that their investment in a show is based on the expected audience turnout.
Despite the cancellation, there is still a possibility for a revival if the viewership makes it seem worthwhile. Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand. Santa Clarita Diet creator Victor Fresco has expressed his disappointment in the cancellation and his desire to finish the series to give the cast and fans some closure. He has also hinted at potential storylines for a fourth season, including developing Abby and Eric's relationship and introducing a new dynamic for Sheila and Joel following his transformation.
Fresco's comments indicate that the show's niche audience and the potential cost of pay increases for cast and crew members may have contributed to the cancellation. However, he remains hopeful for a revival, and with Netflix's track record of reviving shows based on audience demand, a return of Santa Clarita Diet is not entirely out of the question.
While a revival is not currently in the works, fans can take comfort in the fact that Netflix has been known to revive shows when there is a strong demand from viewers. In the meantime, all three seasons of Santa Clarita Diet are available for streaming on Netflix, allowing fans to rewatch and imagine their own endings to the show's cliffhanger.
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Season 4 plans
Fans of the Netflix horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet were left disappointed when the show was cancelled after three seasons. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, had expressed his desire to make a fourth season to give fans "some kind of closure".
In an interview with LADbible, Fresco revealed that the fourth season would have explored Joel's new life as a zombie and its impact on his relationship with Sheila, as they were now ""in the same boat". He also wanted to delve into the relationship between the Hammonds' daughter Abby and their neighbour Eric.
Fresco acknowledged the disappointment of fans, stating that he felt bad because his job as a writer was to get people emotionally invested in the show, which he believed they had achieved. He also shared that he had many ideas for Joel's undead journey and how his character could evolve differently from Sheila's.
While Netflix has not provided an official reason for the show's cancellation, Cindy Holland, the streaming platform's Head of Original Content, explained that their investment decisions are based on the expected audience turnout and critical acclaim. Despite the cancellation, there is still a possibility for a revival if viewership increases and makes it seem worthwhile, as Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand.
Fans have taken to online petitions and social media campaigns to express their desire for a fourth season, and some have suggested that another network could pick up the show if Netflix is unwilling to continue. However, this is considered unlikely as Netflix likely owns the rights to the show.
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Frequently asked questions
Netflix's decision to cancel the show was based on audience turnout and critical acclaim. Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, said, "When we're investing, we decide how much to invest based on the audience that will show up. If the audience doesn't show up, we think about the reason to continue to invest in something that doesn't do as well as we had hoped."
Although there is no news of the show being renewed, Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand. Santa Clarita Diet creator Victor Fresco has also expressed his desire to finish the series to give the stars and fans some closure.
Season 4 would have explored Abby and Eric's relationship, with Abby as a hunter of the undead. It would have also introduced a new dynamic for Sheila and Joel after his transformation.
