Geena Davis is "Terribly Disappointed" That Netflix Canceled THE BOROUGHS Just Like The Rest of Us

Netflix’s decision to cancel The Boroughs came as a genuine surprise this week, especially considering the sci-fi horror series had only recently premiered on May 21 and continued to hold a spot in the streamer’s Top 10.

With a fantastic cast, strong reviews, and an awesome story that blended retirement community life with eerie supernatural threats, it felt like the kind of show that had plenty of life left in it.

As someone who really enjoyed the series, it sucks that it was canceled. The Boroughs delivered an intriguing mystery, memorable characters, and a refreshing premise that stood apart from the endless parade of familiar genre offerings.

It was smart, entertaining, and anchored by an incredible ensemble that included Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman, and Denis O’Hare.

Add in executive producers Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, the creators of Stranger Things, and it seemed like a show with a bright future.

Unfortunately, that future has been cut short. Following the cancellation announcement, Davis opened up about the news during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that the cast was informed before the public learned the series wouldn’t be returning.

“The producers, who became our dear, dear friends, were able to tell us before the news came out, and we’re all terribly disappointed,” Davis said; they were “not necessarily” given any explanation for the cancellation.

That disappointment appears to have been shared across the entire production. According to Davis, nobody expected the show to be canceled while it was still performing so well on Netflix.

“Honestly, I don’t know what happened,” she continued. “I think it’s probably rare for a show to not get picked up and to have it announced that it’s not being picked up while it’s still in the top 10. We didn’t expect that.

“But the creators told us from the beginning that the series was not going to have a cliffhanger ending to the first season, that someone had advised them, ‘Make it its own thing. And if you come back to do another year, make that its own thing.’ And we really did.

“There’s a tiny hint at the end that maybe everything isn’t fixed, but it is a complete story. And if we had made it as a limited series, then it would’ve been a big hit, and everybody would be happy. We so fell in love with each other that we just wanted to keep working together.”

Thankfully, that creative decision means viewers aren’t left hanging with an unresolved cliffhanger. Sure, the first season tells a complete story, which softens the blow a little. Still, it’s hard not to wonder where these characters could have gone next.

Reports suggest that one of the biggest factors behind the cancellation was money. The outlet stated that “two sources [told] THR that a problem with The Boroughs was its expensive production budget.”

That isn’t difficult to believe. Between its visual effects work, ambitious sci-fi concepts, and veteran cast, The Boroughs couldn’t have been a cheap show to produce.

Another reported factor may have involved the Duffers’ recent move away from Netflix. According to the report, “The Duffer Brothers ditching Netflix for a four-year deal at Paramount seems to have rubbed high-ranking Netflix executives the wrong way, the first source told THR.”

However, that explanation appears to be disputed. As the report also notes, “A source close to Netflix denied the accuracy of that characterization, and says this was simply a business decision.”

The timing of the announcement also wasn’t random. THR reported that “June 15 was […] the deadline for Netflix to extend the options on the cast of The Boroughs. It declined to do so, effectively killing the series.”

And for anyone hoping another streamer might swoop in and save it, that apparently isn’t happening. According to the report, “There won’t be a rebirth, multiple sources tell THR. Netflix is both the studio and the platform here, with 100 percent ownership of the series.”

That’s the real disappointment here. While the first season works as a complete story, The Boroughs felt like a world that still had plenty left to explore. The chemistry between the cast was terrific, the mythology was fascinating, and the concept of a retirement community facing cosmic horrors offered something genuinely unique in the sci-fi genre.

At least viewers can watch the season knowing they’ll get a satisfying ending. But there’s no question this feels like a show that deserved more time to grow.

It’s a shame we won’t get to see where the story would have gone next, because The Boroughs was one of Netflix’s most interesting new genre series, and it feels like it was cut short just as it was finding its audience.