Netflix surprises by canceling ‘The Boroughs’, the Duffer brothers’ science fiction series, after a debut season
Netflix has confirmed the closure of the science fiction series “The Boroughs”, produced by the Duffer brothers, after just one season. The production, which was executive directed by the creators of “Stranger Things”, premiered in May 2026, shortly after the end of the final season of the acclaimed series. “The Boroughs” featured Alfred Molina and Alfre Woodard in the lead roles, exploring the journey of a group of unlikely characters in a retirement community. They needed to come together to stop an otherworldly threat that sought to steal the most precious asset they had: time.
The series’ conception is attributed to Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, and the production was often compared to “Stranger Things”, but with a cast made up of older characters. In addition to Molina and Woodard, the acting team included Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, Carlos Miranda, Jena Malone, Seth Numrich, Alice Kremelberg and Geena Davis.
The writers of “The Boroughs” had ambitious plans for a storyline that would span three seasons. In fact, a script room for the second season had already been established before the cancellation was announced, a common procedure for high-profile series that begin planning their sequels while awaiting renewal confirmation.
Asked in May about the future of the series, actor Alfred Molina expressed his desire for more seasons. “I would love to continue. I would love for the series to continue. Who knows? Television can be unpredictable, but it also offers incredible opportunities. We have a wonderful cast. We have an excellent premise. The sets are all prepared. I would love to do more episodes”, declared Molina at the time.
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Despite gaining a sizable audience on the platform, racking up nearly 19 million views in its first 18 days, “The Boroughs” faced a financial challenge. Science fiction productions, especially those that require many special effects to give credibility to paranormal threats, tend to have a high production cost. This factor is often decisive for Netflix when evaluating the renewal or cancellation of a title, even those with good audience performance.
In contrast to the decision regarding “The Boroughs,” Netflix recently confirmed the second season of “Tales From ’85,” an animated series set in the “Stranger Things” universe. Other productions that debuted and were renewed include “Little House on the Prairie”, “The Hunting Wives” and “Leanne”, demonstrating the platform’s selectivity.
The news of the cancellation was first reported by the Deadline portal.
