Nightflyers canceled at Syfy; no season 2 on the way
According to a new report coming in now via Deadline, the cable network is opting against bringing the George R.R. Martin adaptation back for another reason. Why? This is a case of the network deciding that the show worked well enough as a standalone entity and with that, they’re opting to make it into more of a limited series after the fact. The options on the cast were also set to expire, and David Ajala is already on board a new pilot over on CBS.
The ratings for Nightflyers season 1 were not necessarily horrendous compared to some other shows on cable, but they also were not a breakout hit despite a fairly high-profile rollout across a number of different platforms. It had a unique airing structure, and that did lead us to wonder whether or not that helped or hurt it in the end.
Ultimately, though, if you got into Nightflyers in the first place you had to expect that this was a possibility. Syfy for many years has a habit of ending shows early, whether it be this one, Dark Matter, Alphas, or recently Z Nation — though at least it lasted five seasons and has a spin-off coming to Netflix in the future. Because of the high cost that comes sometimes with doing science fiction and also the limited market, it can be a little bit challenging in order to consistently deliver material that lasts for a long period of time. We do hope, despite the frustrations, that viewers do give some other Syfy series a chance in the future. Regardless of what you may think about the network’s quick cancellations, there are a lot of people who pour their hearts and souls into these shows. They want to deliver some great products and the only way to save them is to keep watching them. It’s a strange trade-off when it comes to following television — ratings are essential to keeping shows around, but there can be resistance when it comes to giving certain networks ratings.
If we do hear anything further regarding the future of Nightflyers, we will be sure to let you know.
What do you think about Nightflyers being canceled after a season on the air? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for some other news. (Photo: Syfy.)