When it premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2022,The Peripheralbecame a hit with critics and viewers alike over the course of its eight-episode run. Loosely based on the hugely popular 2014 science-fiction novel by author William Gibson, whoseNeuromancerwill be adapted by Apple TV+,The Peripheralstars Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) as Flynne Fisher, a talented gamer who draws the attention of a company that invites her to test and experience their brand-new virtual reality project.
It was an exciting new science-fiction show, a genre that has thrived in the streaming era, and Amazon Prime Videowas willing to giveThe Peripherala massive budget. The series ended up doing pretty great, and built a passionate fan base in the process, andThe Peripheral’s season 1 endingleft a lot of threads open to be explored in season 2, something that seemed like a no-brainer following its success. Sadly, the streamer canceled the show before the sophomore installment could happen.
Amazon Prime Video Canceled The Peripheral Season 2 Because Of The SAG & WGA Strikes
A Second Season Was Initially Confirmed Before It Was Canceled
AfterThe Peripherallaunched to solid reviews and ended up being successful for Amazon Prime Video, the streaming giant announced that a second season ofThe Peripheralwas going to happen just two months after the season 1 finale. In a terrible turn of fate,Amazon Prime Video reversed their decision and canceledThe Peripheralsix months after they initially renewed it, shocking fans and leaving the show on a cliffhanger that might never be resolved.
I Would Love For These Sci-Fi TV Shows To Make A Comeback
Sci-fi TV shows are some of the most imaginative on television, and these iconic series are too good not to make a comeback in the near future.
While the cancelation of the series was a blindside toThe Peripheral’s prospects,Deadlinestated thatthe reason the show ended up getting canceled was due to the extensive length of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes at the time. With a possible 2024 release for season 2, it’s a shame thatThe Peripheralgot the axe. Sadly, with a large budget and delays in production, Amazon Prime Video felt like they had no choice but to pull the plug after all.
What The Peripheral Producers Have Said About Future Seasons
While there hasn’t been much said by series creator Scott B. Smith, lead Chloë Grace Moretz, or any of the cast regardingThe Peripheralgetting cancelled,executive producer Lisa Joy did talk about wanting to do multiple seasons. She serves as the EP alongside Jonathan Nolan, who both worked onWestworldandFallout. In a 2023 interview withRadio Times, prior toThe Peripheral’s cancelation, Joy said,
I would love to have season 2 and season 3 and all the seasons in the world to explore this amazing, amazing novel… I know we’ve already started brainstorming about season two in the hopes that we get a season two, and the world only gets more vast and complicated. But the thing that really appeals to me about it is how much deeper we are able to dive into each of the characters’ lives, and personal lives and ambitions and motivations. To me, that is where it gets really exciting.
Despite the show’s cancellation,there is still a possibility thatThe Peripheralcould get picked up by another streaming service.The two that seem most likely are either Netflix, since they have a history of picking up shows canceled by other networks or streamers, or even Apple TV+, given they are adaptingNeuromanceralready. It’s possible they are waiting to see how it does before diving into any more William Gibson adaptations. But with the show being so costly already, and with each passing year since it initially premiered, it might not be in the cards forThe Peripheralseason 2, which is a shame.
