Netflix Reportedly Canceled Its Best Zombie Show With 87% Rotten Tomatoes Score

Summary

• In 2019, Black Summer, a zombie series from the creators of Z Nation, was released on Netflix.
• The show was highly praised for its acting and great directing, but after two seasons, nothing was heard from it.
• In 2023, the co-creator confirmed that the show had been canceled.

Speaking of American zombie series on Netflix, the streaming service's roster isn't that great. As far as American shows go, there is only a failed attempt to reinterpret Resident Evil, the comedy Daybreak and the once popular, but let's be honest, somewhat ridiculous Z Nation.

Speaking of the latter, its creators have come up with an excellent spin-off, Black Summer. The show was received with rave reviews from critics, but after the release of Season 2 in 2021, little has been heard about it. Unfortunately, it looks like Black Summer has been canceled, but that doesn't change the fact that it could be a great peak for all fans of the zombie genre.

Harrowing series from the creators of Z Nation

Set in the initial weeks of a catastrophic zombie apocalypse, the show follows a mother who embarks on a harrowing journey to find her daughter and adapt to a terrifying and hostile new world. Two other stories continue to unfold and intertwine: Julius James aka Spears (Justin Chu Cary), a criminal posing as a soldier, and Sun (Christine Lee), a woman searching for her mother.

Each of them has their own secrets, but for the sake of survival and saving their loved ones, they are willing to unite. Along the way they will meet other survivors, but not every newcomer will be willing to form an alliance.

Black Summer was created by Karl Schaefer, showrunner of the original Z Nation and filmmaker of the once-popular teen horror show Eerie, Indiana. The co-creator was John Hyams, known for the Universal Soldier franchise as well as directing, co-producing and writing several episodes of Z Nation.

Black Summer Has Been Quietly Canceled

Unfortunately, following the release of Season 2 on Netflix, the streaming service never made any announcements, seemingly ghost-cancelling the show. Speaking to Express.co.uk in 2021, Jaime King was incredibly excited about the prospect of a third season, sharing her thoughts and how she couldn't wait to join the writers' room. However, she also noted that if Netflix didn't renew the show for a third season, then unfortunately the second season would be the last. Sadly, that's exactly what happened.

Unfortunately, the cancellation of the series was indirectly confirmed by Hyams himself on Twitter. In the spring of 2023, the filmmaker answered a fan's question about whether Season 3 would happen with laconic 'Sadly, nah.' More recently, rumors circulated that the season was greenlit after all, but the information turned out to be fake, which Hyams said on December 31, 2023.

'I've seen the same things but know nothing about it,' he said in response to a question about fake info.

Apparently, the cancellation was due to the show's low ratings. Although Black Summer was among the Top 10 most watched shows in the United States at the time of Season 2's release, the same could not be said for its popularity worldwide.

One of the Most Spectacular Zombie Series, Highly Praised by Critics

Although not often discussed these days, the series is a great representative of the zombie genre, reminiscent of 28 Days Later thanks to its realistic depiction of the aftermath of a disaster. Also worth mentioning is the incredible direction and visual style of Hyams. Black Summer is a much grittier and darker look at the zombie apocalypse, with a color palette more reminiscent of The Road with Viggo Mortensen.

Moreover, many scenes are shot in a single take, and the almost von Trier-like camera shakes make you empathize with the characters and be horrified by the events. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics have rated the show at 87%, with the second season receiving a perfect 100%.

Source: Express.co.uk, X, X.