Netflix Ends Production of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Series 'Fubar' After Two Successive Seasons
In a surprising turn of events, streaming giant Netflix has decided not to renew the spy action series "Fubar" for a third season. The Arnold Schwarzenegger-led show, which was a hit for Netflix in its first season in 2023, has seen a significant drop in viewership in its second season.
The second season of "Fubar" failed to perform as well as the first, with the Season 2 premiere weekend attracting only about 2.2 million views, a steep decline from the 11 million views during the Season 1 premiere weekend. Overall, total viewership minutes decreased by approximately 73% from Season 1 to Season 2.
This steep decline in audience engagement led Netflix to decide against renewing the show. The second season was described as having a "surprisingly soft return," failing to make a significant impact in the streaming metrics that Netflix values when determining renewals.
Nick Santora, the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of "Fubar," along with additional executive producers Adam Higgs, Scott Sullivan, Phil Abraham, Amy Pocha, Seth Cohen, Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell, put together a compelling storyline for the series. The cast, which includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, Fabiana Udenio, Aparna Brielle, Guy Burnet, Andy Buckley, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jay Baruchel, Barbara Eve Harris, and Scott Thompson, delivered strong performances.
The logline for "Fubar" is: "Luke Brunner is a veteran CIA operative who, up until recently, was on the verge of retirement. After his last mission in saving another operative - who just so happened to be his daughter - he's back and face to face with new villains. This one is an old flame from Luke's past who threatens to destroy the world...if she doesn't destroy his life first."
The series was a success for Netflix in its initial run, even making Nielsen's streaming originals top 10 for the week of June 16, after its premiere. However, the cancellation of "Fubar" was confirmed by Variety, marking the end of the Arnold Schwarzenegger series after two seasons.
Despite Schwarzenegger stepping away from the role, with the show centered on his character as a CIA operative, the decision to conclude the series after two seasons seems to primarily be due to the significant drop in viewership in Season 2 compared to the strong performance in Season 1. This reflects Netflix’s evaluation of diminishing audience interest rather than any quality or critical issues associated with the show.
The second season of "Fubar" was produced by Skydance Television. While fans may be disappointed, the decision by Netflix to cancel the series after two seasons is a clear indication of their commitment to delivering content that resonates with their audience.
With Netflix focusing on content that resonates with its audience, the steep decrease in viewership for "Fubar" Season 2 compared to Season 1 led to the show's cancellation, causing disappointment among fans. This decline in audience engagement was observed in both total viewership minutes and premiere weekend numbers, highlighting the significance of entertainment offerings such as movies-and-tv on streaming platforms like Netflix.
