‘The Expanse’ Is Finally Getting a Continuation, but Not the One We Wanted

Three years after The Expanse wrapped up on Amazon Prime, the franchise is getting a continuation, but not the one many fans hoped for.

Instead of a seventh season on screen, the story will continue through a graphic novel titled The Expanse: A Little Death. The comic is co-written by Wes Chatham, who played Amos Burton in the show, alongside comic author Andy Diggle.

Chatham confirmed the project at a recent press event, saying the story “focuses on Amos Burton and his journey, with plenty of action and the kind of trouble he always seems to find.”

The graphic novel picks up roughly two years after the events of Season 6, around the year 2358. It introduces a new world called Auberon, a colony within the Ring Network, and promises to dive into a story of violent revenge while keeping Burton at the center.

According to Chatham and Diggle, the tale begins with Burton getting into trouble as usual, before reuniting with some familiar characters back on Baltimore.

For those who were hoping to see Season 7 brought to life on screen, the announcement may feel disappointing.

Fans have long followed the series for its on-screen storytelling, and while a graphic novel provides more insight into the universe, it is a different experience than watching the drama unfold in live-action.

The Expanse is set in a future where humanity has expanded across the Solar System after Earth’s resources were depleted. The story explores tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Belt, eventually escalating into large-scale conflict. Much like Game of Thrones, the series starts with separate storylines that gradually connect, often in catastrophic ways.

Originally developed by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby for Syfy, the series is based on novels by James S.A. Corey.

It follows a diverse group of characters, including UN Security Council member Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo), detective Josephus Miller (Thomas Jane), and ship officer James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew. The team becomes caught in a conspiracy involving alien technology that threatens the fragile peace of the system.

The show earned praise for its visuals, political storytelling, and character development. It won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and received three Saturn Award nominations for Best Science Fiction Television Series.

Despite its critical success, Syfy canceled it after three seasons, and Amazon later picked up the series for three more seasons, concluding with Season 6. The series premiered on December 14, 2015, and its final episode aired on January 14, 2022. Rotten Tomatoes gave the final season a 96% rating, with critics noting that it “honors the series’ characters and themes with a graceful conclusion.”

The Expanse has also been praised for its scientific accuracy. Executive producer Naren Shankar, a former PhD student in applied engineering, helped ensure realistic depictions of physics and technology.

Reviewers highlighted the show’s portrayal of spacecraft propulsion, the vacuum of space, uncontrolled decompression, and stealth technology as particularly accurate. Many argue the series effectively shows what space travel could look like in the near future.

While fans may have hoped for more episodes on screen, A Little Death provides an opportunity to explore the Expanse universe in a new format. It focuses on a beloved character while introducing new locations and conflicts, giving readers a deeper look into life after Season 6.

I think this is a smart way to continue the story, even if it isn’t a traditional Season 7. Fans get more content, and the series can expand creatively through a different medium. What do you think about the graphic novel approach to continuing The Expanse? Share your thoughts in the comments.