Cursed, the Netflix fantasy series that explores a heroine from Arthurian legend, won't be renewed for season 2. Here's why it was canceled.

The medieval fantasy series Cursed was canceled by Netflix without a second season, and here's why the streaming service won't continue the project. Cursed premiered on Netflix in July 2020 with a 10-episode first season, but a year passed without any updates, leaving the fate of the series up in the air. Then, in the aftermath of other recent cancelations that include four original comedy shows, Cursed got the ax from Netflix as well with its title becoming an ironic self-fulfilling prophecy.

Based on Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler's illustrated young adult novel of the same name, Cursed follows the story of a heroine from Arthurian legend. Nimue, played by 13 Reason Why's Katherine Langford, is shunned by her Fey village and believed to be cursed but has a destiny to become the magical Lady of the Lake. She unexpectedly joins forces with Cursed's young King Arthur (Devon Terrell) on a quest to find Merlin (Gustaf Skarsgård) and deliver Excalibur. Nimue also becomes a symbol of strength against the Red Paladins, a group of violent religious zealots who want to eradicate magic and thus the Fey people. The show explores themes of courage, religious oppression, the effects of war, and more.

Given the widespread appeal of fantasy content in today's streaming world and Netflix's own prowess in the genre with shows like The Witcher, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Cursed was canceled ahead of season 2. However, as unfortunate as Cursed's cancellation is, there are actually some logical reasons for it. Here's why Netflix canceled Cursed, and details on whether Cursed season 2 can ever happen in the future.

Why Netflix Canceled Cursed

Although the series' idea was promising, Cursed was likely canceled by Netflix because it didn't live up to expectations and didn't draw enough viewers in compared to their other projects. Rotten Tomatoes gave Cursed a score of 67% based on critic ratings and 53% for the audience score, indicating mixed reviews. On top of that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Netflix canceled a handful of series they had already renewed because they couldn't put the shows into production, and there is always a stream of new shows and movies to produce. It's less about whether Netflix's Cursed was popular and more about how popular it was compared to other series, especially those with franchise potential. Furthermore, fantasy series – with the sets, costumes, CGI, and more – can potentially be more expensive to make.

Still, the cancelation of Cursed comes as a bit of a surprise for a show that did manage to secure some popularity leading up to its release. Netflix had ordered the series before Miller and Wheeler's book was even published in the fall of 2019, and the on-screen project became highly anticipated. The fact that Netflix had secured Langford - a recognizable star from its infamous teen drama 13 Reasons Why – to headline the cast of Cursed as Lady of the Lake seemed like a viable move. Upon the release of Cursed, rumors about a Merlin spinoff already began to circulate. But, after all the hype, Cursed only spent a few weeks on the platform's top 10 charts, and the possibility of a spinoff appears doubtful now.

Will Cursed Season 2 Ever Happen?

In the aftermath of the news about Cursed, some loyal fans started campaigning for another streaming service to pick up the series, using the hashtag #SavedCursed on social media. However, the cast members have been released from their contracts and are free to pursue other projects, which makes any return seem unlikely. Although there was content planned for Cursed season 2, and season 1 ended on a major cliffhanger in which Nimue is shot and presumed dead, it seems that Netflix really did cancel Cursed for good. Likewise, avid Cursed fans have only one book to turn to, as Miller and Wheeler have yet to create a sequel for their original hit. However, Wheeler did hint in an Instagram post on July 9, 2021, that another novel could be in the works. The Netflix series Cursed will probably never get a season 2, but it had a good run while it lasted, and several of the actors have taken to social media to express their gratitude for being a part of the project since its cancellation.

Next: Cursed: The Biggest Unanswered Questions After Season 1's Ending