This move caught me off guard but Netflix has cancelled Sense8 after two seasons.
Cindy Holland, VP of Netflix Original content stated:
“After 23 episodes, 16 cities and 13 countries, the story of the Sense8 cluster is coming to an end. It is everything we and the fans dreamed it would be: bold, emotional, stunning, kick ass, and outright unforgettable. Never has there been a more truly global show with an equally diverse and international cast and crew, which is only mirrored by the connected community of deeply passionate fans all around the world. We thank Lana, Lilly, Joe and Grant (Hill) for their vision, and the entire cast and crew for their craftsmanship and commitment.”
Because of the big-budget show’s lengthy pre-production, production and post-production — the Season 2 debut came almost two years after the series premiere — the options on the cast had expired, and Netflix had let them lapse. But as Season 2 episodes were edited this past winter, Netflix reached out to the core actors and negotiated new contracts to make them available for a potential third season. That was not meant to be.
With its dense mythology, Sense8 never became a broad, pop-culture hit like Netflix’s Orange is the New Black or Stranger Things but quickly established a loyal following by devoted fans who had been rallying for a third season renewal. Their number was likely not enough to clinch another season of the expensive, globe-trotting sci-fi saga. Despite this, I still thought the fan reception would be enough to eventually clinch another renewal.
