The Serpent Queenhas been canceled at Starz after two seasons. Premiered in 2022, the historical drama series follows the life of Catherine de' Medici and her ascent to the throne, beginning with her arrival at the French court as a young teenager and culminating in her role as the reigning Queen of France in the 16th century, based on the bookCatherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of Franceby Leonie Frieda. Samantha Morton leadsThe Serpent Queen’s castalongside Amrita Acharia, Enzo Cilenti, Ruby Bentall, Nicholas Burns, Beth Goddard, Raza Jaffrey, and Danny Kirrane.
Now, a little more than a month after the season two finale aired in August, the historical drama has been canceled. According toThe Hollywood Reporter,The Serpent Queenwill not be returning for a third season at Starz. No reason was provided for the cancellation.
What The Serpent Queen’s Cancellation Means For The Show
It’s Still Receiving A Spinoff
The Serpent Queen’s cancellation is somewhat surprising considering thatthe show regularly received positive reviews from critics, resulting in 100% scores on Rotten Tomatoes for the first two seasons. Its debut season was praised for bringing one of history’s most notorious monarchs to life with a sharp, sardonic edge and a powerful performance from Samantha Morton.The Serpent Queenseason 2, which saw Catherine’s hold on power challenged as she navigates power struggles, conflicts, and betrayals in her efforts to unify France, received similar critical acclaim.
The Serpent Queen Season 3 Needs To Include One Major Elizabeth I Story After Season 2’s Ending Setup
The Serpent Queen season 2 set the stage for an explosive season 3. A compelling relationship could be a focus in the critically-lauded drama.
Despite this critical acclaim, thehistorical drama seriessimply didn’t receive the viewership required for Starz to renew it for a third season. The first season averaged about 185,000 viewers on the premium cable channel, and though numbers aren’t available for season 2, they likely dropped dramatically for Starz to cancel it. However,a spinoff series is currently in development at StarzfromThe Serpent Queencreator Justin Haythe centered on Queen Elizabeth I. While casting has yet to be announced, Minnie Driver starred as the British queen in season 2 and is expected to reprise her role.
Our Take On The Serpent Queen’s Cancellation
Its Viewership Didn’t Match Its Critical Acclaim
Despite earning rave reviews and a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes,The Serpent Queenseason 2’s viewership fell short of expectations and caused its cancellation. The show’s sharp writing, captivating historical drama, and standout performance from Samantha Morton simply didn’t draw enough of an audience for Starz to justify a third season. While loyal fans will certainly miss Catherine de' Medici’s gripping story, the network’s focus will now shift to a potential spinoff centered on Queen Elizabeth I, offering a new historical narrative, but could also end up suffering from low viewership.
The Serpent Queen
Cast
Based on the life of Queen Catherine de' Medici of France, The Serpent Queen is a historical period drama created by Justin Haythe. The series follows Catherine’s rise into the monarchy, from her introduction into the French court as a young teenager to her eventual spot as the ruling Queen of France in the 16th century.
