10 Major TV Shows Already Cancelled In 2025

Unfortunately, all these TV series that held great promise were unfortunately axed in 2025, cutting short their narratives prematurely. Despite the constant renewal of TV programs for additional seasons, spin-offs, or reboots, not every show is so fortunate. Bidding farewell to cherished series can never be effortless, especially when production companies choose to terminate them prior to providing a fitting conclusion. Alas, there are numerous shows we yearned to see flourish for much longer, yet their continuation will remain unfulfilled.

A number of captivating and thrilling television series throughout history have unexpectedly ended prematurely. Shows like The OA, Sense8, 1899, Firefly, Heroes, The Get Down, among others, fall into this category. There’s a chance that these shows might be revived or rebooted in the future, but such continuations don’t always meet the expectations of networks, resulting in additional letdowns. It seems to be part of the natural course for many TV series that these ten shows, which should have had longer runs, were cut short on our screens.

10) The Franchise (2024)

As a film enthusiast, I eagerly waited for HBO’s satirical comedy series, “The Franchise,” to premiere in October 2024. To my delight, it was met with positive reviews, taking aim at the complexities and challenges faced during the making of a movie within a sprawling superhero franchise, drawing comparisons to juggernauts like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe.

With shows like “The Boys” concluding in 2026, it seemed that “The Franchise” could have run for years satirizing such material. Unfortunately, HBO decided to pull the plug on the series in January, just after its first season had aired. They cited high production costs and a viewership smaller than anticipated as reasons for the cancellation.

Amy Gravitt, HBO’s head of comedy, expressed her pride in the show and praised Jon Brown as a powerful comedic writer to Deadline after The Franchise was cancelled. She mentioned that while they had Armando Iannucci and Sam Mendes involved, the show didn’t perform as well as she expected, but she found the writing to be extremely funny, which is why they took the risk. The high-caliber cast of The Franchise increased production costs, making it challenging for HBO to maintain the series with low viewership numbers.

9) Suits LA (2025)

6 years following the end of the original show in 2019, Suits LA served as a spin-off for Suits, but unfortunately mirrored the fate of Pearson in 2023 by not finding success. Premiering in February 2025, Suits LA had potential to run multiple seasons with Stephen Amell’s character Ted Black, an LA-based entertainment lawyer, at the helm. However, NBC terminated the series in May 2025 after only one season due to its lack of promise for growth, given its negative audience response and low viewership numbers.

8) Based on a True Story (2023-2024)

In the streaming platform Peacock, the show “Based on a True Story” starred Kaley Cuoco as Ava Bartlett, a woman fixated on true crimes, and Chris Messina as her husband Nathan Bartlett. Together, they started a podcast after discovering their plumber was a serial killer. The series had the potential for success, and its second season outperformed the first. However, despite its achievements, Peacock decided to cancel the show in April 2025, leaving fans of this dark comedy frustrated as the final season ended on a suspenseful cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

7) Clean Slate (2025)

As a passionate advocate for outstanding television content, I can’t help but reflect on the profound impact that “Clean Slate” could have left on our screens had it been given the chance to continue beyond its initial season. Starring the exceptional Laverne Cox from “Orange is the New Black,” this series saw her portray Desiree Slate, a courageous trans woman reconnecting with her father who was unaware of her transition. The show, which premiered in February 2025 to widespread acclaim, left many of us bewildered by its premature cancellation – some speculating that the political climate under the second presidency of Donald Trump may have played a role given his views on the trans community.

6) The Residence (2025)

In March 2025, Uzo Aduba, known for her role in “Orange is the New Black,” appeared in “The Residence” on Netflix, portraying Cordelia Cupp, a quirky detective who investigates a murder at an Australian prime minister’s state dinner. The series garnered positive reviews and debuted as Netflix’s second-most-watched show, but it was ultimately canceled after its first season due to Netflix’s content purge. Had “The Residence” continued, it might have developed into a compelling mystery series akin to “Knives Out” or “Poker Face,” featuring Cupp’s cases. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by the long-running success of “Adolescence.

5) Mythic Quest (2020-2025)

For four seasons spanning from 2020 to 2025, “Mythic Quest” on Apple TV+ garnered immense affection, with Rob McElhenney portraying Ian Grimm, the game creator. Despite its favorable critiques and impressive viewership, Apple decided to end the series in April 2025. This move led to a revised finale for season 4, titled “Heaven and Hell,” which provided a more fitting conclusion. The show had potential to run for many more years, and the warm reception to its spinoff, “Side Quest,” suggests it could have grown even more popular.

4) How to Die Alone (2024)

Following a close brush with death, Melissa (Natasha Rothwell), an airport employee, decides to revamp her life in pursuit of personal growth and empowerment in Hulu’s heartwarming series titled “How to Die Alone“. In this bittersweet, critically-adored show, Rothwell delivers a remarkable performance. Unfortunately, Hulu announced the cancellation of the series in February 2025, after only one season, leaving fans and the cast disappointed. During an interview with Deadline, Rothwell expressed her determination to find another platform for “How to Die Alone“, stating that she was “surprised, devastated, and truly puzzled” by the cancellation, much like the audience.

3) The Recruit (2022-2025)

In 2022, the Netflix spy series “The Recruit” debuted to a divided reception, and although its second season showed improvement, Netflix decided to terminate the show following season 2. The exploits of Noah Centineo’s character Owen Hendricks, a CIA lawyer, didn’t resonate with “The Recruit’s” viewers, but what left audiences stunned was Netflix’s swift decision to cancel the series just five weeks after the release of season 2. Despite creator Alexi Hawley’s hopes for a potential third season, the fierce competition on Netflix and lower-than-anticipated viewership spelled the end for the show.

2) The Wheel of Time (2021-2025)

Amazon ended The Wheel of Time after three seasons due to increased production costs and evolving audience preferences. Despite passionate fan efforts, such as a petition with over 195,000 signatures, there’s no indication that the show will return in live-action format. The devoted fan base and creative team are left disappointed by this decision, considering the series boasted a talented cast and captivating fantasy storyline, which unfortunately proved costly to produce.

1) Frasier (2023-2024)

In 2023, one of television’s most recognized sitcoms, “Frasier,” made a comeback after an absence of 19 years. However, the reboot and subsequent series, which reunited Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, fell short of matching the success of its predecessor. Regrettably, this reboot was terminated by Paramount+ in January 2025. Despite attempts by CBS Studios to find it a new home with other studios, no one has shown interest thus far. It’s unfortunate that after two seasons, “Frasier” has vanished again, and there’s a sense of disappointment as the reboot could potentially harm the esteemed legacy of the original series.

In simpler terms, “Frasier,” a spin-off from the well-known sitcom “Cheers,” originally aired for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004. Unfortunately, its recent revival didn’t achieve the same level of success as the original series. This could be due to the fact that Paramount+, where it was streamed, isn’t particularly renowned for comedies. Other streaming platforms or networks might have managed “Frasier” better and could potentially offer an exciting future for its revival. However, we’ll have to wait and see if any cancelled shows like this one are brought back in the future.

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2025-07-15 16:12