After two seasons on Fox, the serial killer drama Prodigal Son has been cancelled. The series has not been renewed for a third season due to mediocre ratings and Fox picking up new dramas for the fall season, according to Deadline.
Prodigal Son, which was co-produced by Warner Bros Television and Fox Entertainment, was the final Fox drama to receive renewal from the network in 2020. According to Deadline, the renewal wasn’t offered until after upfront, making it a last minute call for the series.
The now cancelled series followed Payne as Malcolm Bright, a criminal psychologist, the son of a serial killer. By using the knowledge of his father’s crimes, he’s able to help the NYPD solve their most gruesome cases. According to Deadline, 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star, and The Resident, Fox’s other dramas, are likely to be renewed to return in fall.
Throughout the run of the series, Prodigal Son has faced many production issues. According to Deadline, star Michael Sheen (Good Omens) has caused many of the complications that impacted filming schedules. Sheen’s co-star, Tom Payne (The Walking Dead), who plays Sheen’s character’s son in the series, tweeted his reaction to the announcement of the show’s cancellation.
Although being a favorite internally at the network, Prodigal Son hasn’t received substantial ratings in either of its two season. However, it has done well on parent company WarnerMedia’s streaming platform, HBO Max, which, via Deadline, seems to be the only potential future for the now cancelled series. Now, Fox has picked up new drama series for the fall, forcing Prodigal Son onto the chopping block. The new shows include Monarch, Our Kind of People, The Cleaning Lady, and The Big Leap.