In a surprising yet somewhat expected turn of events, Prime Video has decided not to renew the historical fantasy series My Lady Jane for a second season. According to Deadline, the cancellation comes just seven weeks after the entire first season was released for binge-watching on June 27.
The show, which creatively blended elements of historical romance, fantasy, adventure and comedy, received strong critical praise and emerged as one of the best-reviewed new series of the year. However, as mentioned by Deadline, despite its innovative premise and favorable reviews, My Lady Jane struggled to attract a wide audience. The series notably failed to break into Nielsen’s Top 10 weekly streaming rankings for original programming, a key metric for measuring the success of streaming shows.
My Lady Jane was developed by Gemma Burgess (Mavericks, My Lady Jane) and was based on the 2016 young adult historical fiction novels of the same name. The story offered an alternative history of Lady Jane Grey, a 16th-century English monarch known as the Nine Days Queen due to her brief rule. According to Deadline, the series reimagined her tale in a world where Ethians, humans capable of transforming into animals, exist and are marginalized by the ruling class of regular humans, known as Verity. The show’s blend of palace intrigue with fantastical elements provided a fresh take on the well-worn genre of historical drama.
The first season concluded with a teaser that hinted at future developments, with the series’ sharp-tongued narrator declaring, “Our story is not over yet.” This open-ended conclusion seemed to promise more adventures for Lady Jane Grey, played by Emily Bader (Paranormal Activities, Fresh Kills, Charmed), and her love interest, Lord Guildford Dudley, portrayed by Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve, A Discovery Of Wolves, Behind The Filter). The couple’s storyline was given a satisfying resolution, with a happily-ever-after ending that pleased fans, even as it left the door open for more.
As mentioned by Deadline, My Lady Jane featured an ensemble cast that included Anna Chancellor (The Hour, What A Girl Wants), Rob Brydon (The Trip, Would I Lie To You, Gavin And Stacy), Jordan Peters (Pirates, Everything I Know About Love, Blue Story), Kate O’Flynn (Everyone Else Burns, Happy-Go-Lucky, Up There), Abbie Hern (The Pact, Enola Homes 2, The Twilight Zone), Henry Ashton (A Good Girls Guide To Murder, Creation Stories), Dominic Cooper (Dracula: Untold, Mamma Mia, The Devils Double) and Jim Broadbent (The Duke, Hot Fuzz, Robots). The show was co-run by Burgess and Meredith Glynn (The Boys, Supernatural, Eye Candy), who also served as executive producers. Jamie Babbit (Breaking The Girls, The Quiet, The Stand-In) directed five of the eight episodes and took on the role of producing director and executive producer. Additionally, Sarah Bradshaw (The Mummy, Last Christmas, Dolittle) and Laurie MacDonald (Rings, Men In Black, The Ring Two) contributed as executive producers.
While the decision to cancel My Lady Jane is disappointing to its dedicated fanbase, the show’s unique take on history and its ambitious blending of genres will likely leave a lasting impression. For now, however, the story of Lady Jane Grey and her fantastical world comes to an abrupt end, leaving viewers to imagine what might have been in a second season.