How Netflix Effectively Canceled ‘Shadowhunters’

Freeform’s Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments will be ending in 2019 after the final 12 episodes that make up the remaining season 3 will be aired. Netflix isn’t directly involved in the production but after ending the international distribution deal, the show can no longer go on.

Shadowhunters, although aired and was produced by Freeform, an ABC subsidiary, was getting to the point where it was reliant on Netflix carrying the show in other regions. We’ve seen this before with other shows Netflix had a partial involvement in. To our knowledge, this is the first time Netflix has had an active role in effectively canceling a show that was primarily on another network.

The news came from the Hollywood Reporter, who explicitly stated that the continuation of Shadowhunters “didn’t make the genre drama financially feasible at the Disney-owned cable network.”

The countries Netflix acquired international distribution for include the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, most of Europe, and Latin America. It doesn’t include the US for streaming as the series winds its way straight onto Hulu in the US.

Could Netflix revive Shadowhunters?

In theory, of course. But the fact that they’ve turned away from getting more seasons internationally must mean that the show isn’t performing well. This would mean if they picked it up they’d only add the US market. Even then, the viewing figures aren’t fascinating. The latest episode only garnered 310,000 viewers, down from season one’s peak of 1.82 million.

With all of that said the fan outcry for Shadowhunters has been overwhelming. Over 40,000 people have already signed a petition on Change.org.

The biggest network most likely to pick up Shadowhunters is Hulu. The streaming service, which has ties to ABC and Freeform, is already the main streaming provider for the show, so it would make the most sense.

When will season 3b of Shadowhunters be on Netflix?

We’ll go into depth with this further at a later date, but we’re fully expecting Netflix to pick up the final episodes, including the extended season finale, later next spring.

What do you think, Netflixers? Should Netflix consider giving the show another season? Let us know in the comments and vote using the poll below.