Netflix Cancels The Boroughs After Just One Season

The Boroughs Faces Cancellation

Produced by the creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, the sci-fi series The Boroughs debuted on Netflix on May 21. However, it has been cancelled less than a month after its launch. This marks the third project from the Duffer Brothers following the conclusion of Stranger Things on December 31, 2025. Recently, it was announced that the brothers will be transitioning to Paramount to work on their first feature film. The cancellation of The Boroughs, which starred notable actors like Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, and Bill Pullman, raises questions about the reasons behind it.

Reasons Behind the Cancellation

Netflix Cancels The Boroughs After One Season

As reported by a media outlet, Netflix was on the verge of renewing The Boroughs, which was created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, who also served as showrunners. A writers' room for a second season had already been established, and there were discussions about potentially filming Seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back. Despite this, the viewership numbers for the series, which was likened to a senior version of Stranger Things, were disappointing. The show garnered 5.6 million views during its opening weekend, which increased to 9.5 million in its first full week, but plummeted to 3.7 million by the second week. Although it remained in Netflix's weekly top 10, it fell to eighth place among English-language shows.

Overview of The Boroughs

What is The Boroughs About?

This English-language series, filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is set in a retirement community where a newcomer encounters a monster and teams up with a group of unlikely heroes to defend their home. The cast also includes Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, Jena Malone, Dee Wallace, Ed Begley Jr., and Jane Kaczmarek from Malcolm in the Middle.

Duffer Brothers Transition to Paramount

Duffer Brothers Leave Netflix for Paramount

Prior to the final season of Stranger Things, it was announced that the Duffer Brothers would depart from Netflix in April 2026 to pursue a four-year deal with Paramount. Recently, it was disclosed that their first film, which remains untitled, is set to hit theaters on November 3, 2028. Following the conclusion of Stranger Things, the Duffers also produced the limited series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen and the animated spin-off Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, with the second season of the latter expected to release later this year. After this, the Duffer Brothers will have no further projects with Netflix.