Netflix announced the cancellation of The Society and I Am Not Okay With This Friday after concerns of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Deadline, both shows bowed well for the streamer with support from critics and fans alike.
“We’re disappointed to have to make these decisions due to circumstances created by COVID,” Netflix said in a statement to Deadline. They described how grateful they were to the creators, writers, cast, and crew behind the two shows.
The Society had been initially renewed for a second season this summer, via Deadline. This was reversed as Netflix questioned how much production could be executed amidst changes caused by COVID-19. Delayed filming was to resume later this month with a premiere date set for late 2020. While it was not officially renewed, I Am Not Okay With This had begun composing scripts for a second season, with production to follow at a later date.
Created by director Johnathan Entwistle (The Good North) and writer Chrisy Hall (Rodeo Queens), I Am Not Okay With This was an adaptation of Charles Forsman’s (The End of the F**king World) graphic novel. According to Deadline, the coming-of-age dramedy followed a young girl whose transition into high school and puberty is compounded by the development of superpowers. It starred Sophia Lillis (It: Chapter Two), Wyatt Oleff (It, Guardians of the Galaxy), Sofia Bryant (The Good Wife, Blue Bloods), and Richard Ellis (The Wretched).
The Society was a YA drama similar to The Lord of the Flies, via Deadline. Created by Chris Keyser (Party of Five, Time of Your Life), the show featured a group of teenagers stranded in an alternate version of their hometown without adult supervision. What began as a pursuit of freedom soon derails into chaos as they must figure out how to civilly survive long enough to return home. The series starred Jack Mulhern (Odd Man Rush), Kathryn Newton (Pokemon: Detective Pikachu), Alex Fitzalan (Slender Man), Kristine Froseth (Looking for Alaska), and Sean Berdy (Switched at Birth).
Various The Society castmembers posted their reactions to the cancellation on social media, via Deadline. Newton caption photo of castmates on Twitter stating, “I Am Proud #TheSociety.” Later she streamed on Instagram Live to speak directly to fans along with Gideon Adlon (Blockers, The Mustang). Fitzalan posted behind the scenes photos to his Instagram stating “Very sad news this morning,” according to Deadline.