Veteran actress Geena Davis has shared her profound disappointment regarding the abrupt cancellation of the Netflix sci-fi mystery series, The Boroughs. The show, which premiered on 21st May and quickly entered the streaming service's top 10, was unexpectedly axed after less than a month, leaving both audiences and its lead star surprised.
Davis, known for her roles in films such as Beetlejuice, told The Hollywood Reporter that she was 'terribly disappointed' by the news. She revealed that the producers, whom she described as 'dear, dear friends,' informed the cast before the public announcement. 'Honestly, I don't know what happened,' she stated, expressing the general bewilderment surrounding the decision, especially given the show's initial traction.
The cancellation is particularly unusual as The Boroughs was still featuring in Netflix's top 10 list when the news broke. Davis highlighted this rarity, noting, 'I think it's probably rare for a show to not get picked up and to have it announced that it's not being picked up while it's still in the top 10. We didn't expect that.' Despite the setback, she encouraged viewers to watch the series, assuring them that the first season provides a complete narrative arc, with creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews having been advised to make it 'its own thing.' There's a 'tiny hint' at the end that not everything is perfectly resolved, but it is not a major cliffhanger.
The series, which follows residents of a seemingly idyllic retirement community uncovering a supernatural menace, boasted a stellar cast including Alfred Molina, Bill Pullman, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, and Denis O’Hare. Davis even suggested a potential reunion for her co-stars in a new series, playing different characters, hinting at the strong camaraderie developed during production.
Reports suggest that the primary reason for the cancellation was the show's substantial production budget. According to The Hollywood Reporter, each episode was projected to cost upwards of $10 million (approximately £7.5 million). Despite a 97 per cent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and reaching the top 10, the viewing figures reportedly fell short of the high expectations set for a big-budget Netflix sci-fi release, failing to achieve the runaway success hoped for by executives.
The Duffer brothers, creators of the hugely successful Stranger Things, produced The Boroughs. This marks their third production since Stranger Things concluded, following 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' and the animated spin-off 'Stranger Things: Tales from '85.' The decision to cancel The Boroughs came despite earlier discussions about a second season and even the establishment of a writers' room, with talks reportedly including filming seasons two and three back-to-back.