The Blacklist season 7 renewal official; James Spader, cast returning
According to a report from Deadline, a renewal for the NBC/Sony series has been in the works for a while, largely because there were many negotiations that needed to be done in advance for it. While star James Spader had previously negotiated a seventh season onto his contract a while back, many of the other stars including Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, and Harry Lennix required new deals to stick around. Those deals have been signed, which is why this renewal is being announced now.
The Blacklist renewal video discussion! – Check out more thoughts on the renewal in our video at the bottom of this article! If you enjoy this, subscribe to CarterMatt on YouTube.
When you looked strictly at the live+same-day ratings for season 6, it was understandable to be curled up in a corner shaking wondering what the future was going to hold for the show. A 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic is nothing to write home about — it’s down a wide margin versus season 5 — but you also have to consider context. This is a season airing on a new night (Friday) and it’s actually boosting some of the numbers compared to when other scripted shows aired in that spot. It’s also a solid DVR player for NBC and consider this — it is one of the most popular “upscale” shows on the big four networks, meaning that a lot of really-wealthy people enjoy it. That matters since these are the people with the disposable income to dump into various products they see on TV.
As for whether or not The Blacklist season 7 could be the final one … let’s not count our chickens yet, shall we? It wouldn’t be the shock to end all shocks if it is, largely because shows get more expensive the longer they last. That’s especially the case here, since another season would likely require a renegotiation with Spader (who is a powerhouse) and likely some others.
The most important part of this renewal
It’s coming at a time in which the writers are finalizing the end of this season, meaning that they can plan with the intention that they are coming back. That is critical, since this will ensure that they have a chance to end this season on their own terms and not be forced to worry anywhere near as much about having to write a proper series finale as opposed to just a season one. This is all code for “prepare yourself for a cliffhanger that will lead to obsessive theorizing for the entirety of the summer.” We don’t have confirmation this is happening, but c’mon — this is The Blacklist. It will be a disappointment if it doesn’t give us something juicy to talk about while we wait!
Before you get too excited about a season 7, remember that we still have more than half of season 6 to go! The next new episode entitled “Bastien Moreau” is airing on NBC on Friday night.
What do you think about The Blacklist being renewed for a season 7 and more than that, what do you think about it happening now? Share in the comments. (Photo: NBC.)