Geena Davis Stunned as Netflix Pulls Plug on Duffer Bros’ New Sci-Fi Series ‘The Boroughs’

Netflix’s cancellation of The Boroughs has surprised both fans and the cast, especially given how strongly the sci-fi series performed shortly after its release. The show managed to climb streaming charts in its early weeks but was still not renewed for a second season.

The series comes from Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of Stranger Things. Their long partnership with Netflix has been one of the platform’s biggest success stories, with Stranger Things becoming a global hit and reportedly generating more than $1 billion in value over its run. Even after the Duffers moved their main focus toward Paramount for future theatrical work, they stayed involved with Netflix projects through their production company, Upside Down Pictures. The Boroughs was one of those projects.

Despite expectations, Netflix decided to end the show after just one season. The decision was unexpected because the series had strong viewership numbers. It premiered at number two on Netflix’s English-language TV chart with 5.6 million views. In its second week, it climbed even higher and reached number one with 9.5 million views. Even with that momentum, Netflix chose not to continue the story.

The show’s cast includes Geena Davis in the role of Renee, along with Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, Denis O’Hare, and Bill Pullman. The story is set in what appears to be a peaceful retirement community, but the setting hides a dangerous secret. A group of unlikely residents must work together to face an unknown supernatural threat.

Geena Davis reacted to the cancellation in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She explained that the cast was informed before the public announcement and expressed disappointment about the decision. She said, “Honestly, I don’t know what happened. 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.”

She also clarified that the creators had intentionally designed the first season as a complete story, not a cliffhanger-heavy setup. According to her, they were advised to make the season self-contained in case the show did not continue. She said, “We didn’t expect that. But the creators told us from the beginning that the series was not going to have a cliffhanger ending… And we really did.”

Later reporting from The Hollywood Reporter added more context, with unnamed sources suggesting that production costs played a major role in Netflix’s decision. The series reportedly cost around $10 million per episode, which is unusually high for a show that has not yet secured long-term renewal.

Davis also shared a possible idea for continuing the project in a different form. She suggested turning it into an anthology-style series with the same cast and creative team but new stories each season. She said, “I suggested that the creators write another series, a completely different story with the exact same actors and writers and crew, and we just do it again like an anthology series, right?”

For now, The Boroughs remains a one-season series on Netflix. While its cancellation has raised questions about how streaming platforms measure success, the creators and cast have not ruled out future collaborations, even if the story continues in a different form.

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