Netflix Cancels The Boroughs After One Season
The sci-fi drama The Boroughs has been canceled by Netflix roughly one month after its May 21, 2025 premiere. The decision was confirmed on June 17, 2025.
Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, the series was executive produced by the Duffer Brothers. It starred Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman. The story follows a grieving newcomer who uncovers a dark secret in a retirement community.
Viewership and Critical Reception
Despite its cancellation, The Boroughs performed consistently on Netflix's weekly top 10 English-language TV chart.
- First four days: Ranked second with 5.6 million views.
- First full week: Reached number one with 9.5 million views.
- Following week: Ranked fourth with 3.7 million views.
- June 8–14: Added 2 million views, ranking eighth.
Nielsen streaming ratings for its debut week placed it second overall, behind the Netflix series Nemesis. Critically, the series earned a 97% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a 79% audience score.
Cancellation Details
The deadline for Netflix to extend the cast's options was June 15, 2025. The company declined, effectively ending the series. At the time, a writers' room for a second season had already been opened, and discussions were underway about filming Seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back.
Reasons for Cancellation
"The budget was expensive, with estimates ranging from $10 million per episode to 'materially higher.'"
Multiple factors have been cited by sources:
- Production Costs: Netflix weighs viewership against production cost when making renewal decisions. The budget was a significant factor.
- Executive Shift: The series was approved by former Netflix executives Peter Friedlander and Blair Fetter, who are now at Amazon MGM Studios. The current regime did not greenlight it.
- Duffer Brothers Relationship: Two sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the Duffer Brothers' decision to sign a four-year deal with Paramount negatively affected their relationship with high-ranking Netflix executives. A source close to Netflix denied this, calling the cancellation a pure business decision. A source close to the Duffer Brothers stated that the brothers maintain a good relationship with Netflix and have multiple projects in development there.
Ownership and Future
Netflix is both the studio and platform for The Boroughs, holding 100% ownership. A source close to the production stated that the company is unlikely to sell the series to competitors.