The Peripheral has had its second season renewal at Amazon’s Prime Video undone, putting an end to the sci-fi series.
The un-renewal comes during strikes by Hollywood writers and actors, and sources cite the work stoppages as the reason for The Peripheral not moving ahead with season two. Prime Video had picked up a second season in February, about two months after the first (and now only) season finished its run.
The series is the first show to have an order rescinded with the strikes cited as the reason for the un-renewal. Season two had begun preproduction in early May when writers went on strike, seeking a better contract from studios and streamers. Actors union SAG-AFTRA called its own strike in mid-July.
Created by Scott B. Smith and based on a William Gibson novel, The Peripheral is set in a near-future world and stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a woman who discovers a secret connection to an alternate reality. Joy and Nolan executive produced the series, which hails from their former home, Warner Bros. TV, and Amazon Studios, where the duo signed an overall deal in 2019.
That The Peripheral would earn a second season came as somewhat of a surprise, insiders previously told The Hollywood Reporter. The series was developed by former Amazon Studios head of genre programming Sharon Tal Yguado, who was instrumental in bringing Joy and Nolan to the retail giant and streamer. The executive departed earlier that same year, with the series scoring a formal order in late 2019.
The Peripheral cost north of $140 million for an eight-episode first season. The season two renewal was for a shorter run, with sources noting the streamer only picked up six installments after what sources described as lukewarm audience engagement. In April, an insider told THR that “the political capital [Amazon] would lose [canceling the show] with Lisa and Jonah would be too great. And they have other shows coming.” Video game adaptation Fallout, the next expected show from Nolan and Joy, has not yet been slated.
Smith served as showrunner of The Peripheral and executive produced with Joy, Nolan, director Vincenzo Natali, Athena Wickham and Steven Hoban.
Deadline first reported the cancellation.
Source: Hollywood
