7 Sci-Fi Movie Series That Were Cancelled Too Soon

Sci-fi movies have produced some timeless cinematic masterpieces throughout history, with numerous successful science fiction series gracing the silver screen. These films often spawn sequels, extending their narratives across multiple editions. Sometimes, this is a deliberate move following the adaptation of popular book series, while other times it’s an outcome when a movie excels at the box office and sparks demand for further installments from viewers. In contemporary filmmaking, securing sequels and establishing a major franchise is a marker of success that many sci-fi films aspire to achieve.

Regrettably, not every plan for a franchise turns out as expected. Sometimes, exciting previews or announcements lead to disappointing outcomes. Poor box office earnings or negative reviews have resulted in several science fiction series being prematurely ended by studios, before their stories could fully develop. This unfortunate and frequently disheartening turn of events highlights the fact that certain sci-fi movie series are sometimes cancelled far too early.

7) The Lorien Legacies

2011’s film “I Am Number Four” was initially released as the launch of a planned series within the “Lorien Legacies” franchise, which was based on the young adult book series of the same name. The movie boasted a star-studded cast featuring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, and Teresa Palmer, while the screenplay was penned by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Marti Noxon, and produced by Michael Bay. Needless to say, “I Am Number Four” had no shortage of talent behind and in front of the camera.

Instead, the initial science fiction film received negative reviews from critics, which ultimately led to the abandonment of plans for a sequel before any production had started, effectively halting the franchise in its early stages.

6) The Ender’s Game Franchise

2013 marked the debut of “Ender’s Game,” a blockbuster film based on the acclaimed science fiction novel. The stellar cast included Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, and Ben Kingsley. This movie, which delved into the tale of an exceptionally talented military trainee tasked with saving humanity from an impending alien attack, showed promise for future installments, as plans were already underway to adapt additional books in the series.

The film adaptation of “Ender’s Game” unfortunately didn’t perform well financially, leading to the cancellation of any planned sequels. It’s unfortunate since the storyline and acting talent in this movie series had significant promise that wasn’t realized for long.

5) Jules Verne’s Journey Series

2008’s film “Journey to the Center of the Earth” reworked Jules Verne’s title novel, preceding its sequel “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” which also drew inspiration from one of the author’s science fiction stories. The concluding scenes of the sci-fi movie subtly hinted at an upcoming adaptation of Jules Verne’s “From the Earth to the Moon.

It appeared certain that another film would follow, given Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, and Vanessa Hudgens’ established roles in the franchise. Yet, despite expectations, the proposed sequel failed to materialize, leaving the movie series unfinished even as it began to carve out its own unique space.

4) The Mortal Engines Quartet

In 2018, the movie version of Philip Reeve’s “Mortal Engines” was released, introducing the concept of post-apocalyptic steampunk to the silver screen. This film brought to life a future scenario where entire cities were equipped with engines and placed on wheels for mobility.

Despite high expectations, the film Mortal Engines fell short at the box office and didn’t even manage to recoup its production costs. Although a sequel hadn’t been confirmed yet, the movie’s financial struggles effectively ended any hopes for a franchise. While the Mortal Engines Quartet series of books continues to be extremely popular, plans for a full adaptation of its story were abandoned before it could even get started.

3) The Divergent Series

While numerous movie series manage to wrap up with satisfying conclusions, some fall short. After the success of 2014’s Divergent, it was announced that adaptations of subsequent books would follow, with The Divergent Series: Insurgent hitting theaters in 2015 and The Divergent Series: Allegiant releasing a year later in 2016.

In simpler terms, the last film in the series, “Ascendant”, was halted due to production problems and there’s strong doubt that it will ever be made. Given that the franchise needed this final movie to wrap up its story, the sudden conclusion feels unfairly abrupt.

2) The Barsoom Series

The Barsoom series by Edgar Rice Burroughs is known for playing a significant role in shaping early science fiction literature. It tells the story of a 19th-century American Confederate veteran who gets transported to Mars, where he becomes an essential figure amidst the political conflicts on this dying planet.

In 2012, I was eagerly anticipating the release of “John Carter” as the beginning of a planned trilogy of adaptations. Unfortunately, the film’s disappointing box office performance meant all further plans were abandoned. Despite the enduring appeal of the original source material and the potential shown by the first movie, it seemed fate had other plans, and the franchise didn’t get the opportunity to continue as hoped.

1) The Firefly Franchise

Following the cancellation of Firefly, fans were angered that the series wouldn’t go on. But in 2005, the movie Serenity offered a chance for the story to carry forward. It centered around the crew of the named spaceship, providing answers to some of the show’s most intriguing questions.

Although there had been expectations that the film “Serenity” would lead to more installments and revive the series, its underwhelming box office performance appears to have dashed all chances for a live-action follow-up, whether it be in cinemas or on television.

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2025-08-24 04:10