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Rewind to 2022, when Ryan Murphy delivered two main hits for Netflix: DAHMER, which went on to launch the Monster anthology franchise, and The Watcher. Both collection have been breakout successes and marked a turning level in Murphy’s output take care of Netflix, which, up till then, had produced solely a handful of modest titles with restricted affect.
Both of those exhibits have been totally different, although. They have been hits! They have been extra akin to what made Murphy such a prolific creator at Disney, and boy, did they ship. DAHMER stays within the all-time most-watched listing whereas The Watcher has fallen out in recent times, however it’s nonetheless a worthy accomplishment. Celebrating these massive launches, each exhibits obtained renewal orders, with the previous getting two seasons and the latter only a season 2 renewal. There was some skepticism a couple of renewal for The Watcher on the time, on condition that the primary season adapts in full the true story that the present is predicated on, however nonetheless, it was shifting ahead.
At the time of renewal, Bela Bajaria, then Head of Global TV at Netflix, stated, “Audiences can’t take their eyes off Monster and The Watcher. The creative team of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan on Monster, along with Eric Newman on The Watcher, are masterful storytellers who captivated audiences all over the world. The back-to-back force of these two series is due to Ryan’s distinct original voice, which created cultural sensations, and we are thrilled to continue telling stories in the Monster and Watcher universes.”
As of the time of publishing, although, we’re now 893 days on with out a season 2… So what occurred?
Most of the event work on The Watcher was anticipated to happen in 2023, with manufacturing prone to start that 12 months or someday in 2024. However, numerous components made that troublesome — particularly, the Hollywood strikes and Ryan Murphy’s return to Disney.
The strikes impacted a good portion of Netflix’s slate, resulting in some quiet cancellations and delays throughout all US tasks. Then, in the course of 2023, it was introduced that Ryan Murphy would exit his profitable Netflix deal, which he had been tied to for 5 years, and return to Disney. While there have been nonetheless plans to proceed with Monster season 2, which was ultimately launched in 2024 after manufacturing was delayed from 2023, we didn’t obtain any definitive updates on the standing of The Watcher all through 2023.
2024 didn’t have any higher information both. Ryan Murphy very early within the 12 months confirmed that he had seven exhibits popping out that 12 months, and The Watcher was not amongst them. There have been a number of statements that got here out from individuals tied to the present that weren’t significantly definitive about its standing (see under), and the collection was lacking from the 2024 slate.
Cr. Eric Liebowitz/Netflix © 2022
Now, in 2025, the state of affairs stays the identical. The Watcher was an entire no-show in the course of the Next on Netflix 2025 presentation, and regardless of conserving our ears to the bottom, there was no point out of the title in any current growth grids or casting sheets. Given the time that’s handed, it’s additionally anticipated that the unique forged are now not contractually tied to the undertaking, which means that every part must begin once more.
What has Netflix and the forged or crew stated about The Watcher season 2?
Naomi Watts went on the document in January 2024 to say that she had no concept what occurred to The Watcher season 2, telling Entertainment Weekly, “I know they said yes to the next series, but I haven’t heard anything more.” Watts then had one other non-update later that 12 months, talking once more with the identical outlet, saying, “I don’t have one, if there is one. I wish I could. It was so fun, right? I don’t have an update, I’m afraid.”
Around the identical time of that first quote, govt producer on the undertaking, Eric Newman, informed Radio Times, “I can say nothing aside from we’re very excited in regards to the prospect of one other season of The Watcher. That’s all I can say. I’d like to say extra, however I can not. And definitely, on condition that that’s a distinct partnership, I might be talking with out my companions current. So subsequent time, [when] we’re all in a room along with Ryan [Murphy] and Ian [Brennan], we are able to discuss The Watcher.
The final point out we received in regards to the present formally from anybody at Netflix was in an interview performed with Variety with co-CEO Ted Sarandos. During the dialogue, Ryan Murphy’s prolific Netflix deal was introduced up, and so they requested him to replicate on that. “He made great shows with us,” Sarandos says, including, “In general, I would say he had enormous commitments to 20th Century and his old deal that kept us from really realizing its potential. No one really had a lock on Ryan Murphy. I’m super pleased with The Watcher, and the Monster series has been phenomenal. I was just out to visit them, shooting the Ed Gein series, and the performances are insane. It’s what Ryan does so uniquely. There was never any animosity or hurt feelings, and I will continue to work with him.”
Perhaps it’s studying an excessive amount of into it, however my interpretation is that ‘The Watcher’ may be very a lot up to now tense, and all eyes are on the one remaining Ryan Murphy undertaking: Monster: Ed Gein, due out in late 2025, starring Charlie Hunnam. Whether Monster continues past that season is unclear.
Images: Eric Liebowitz/Netflix
The solely different optimistic sign we’ve had in current occasions is TUDUM updating its “ending explained” article again in May 2024… though whether or not that was as a result of something particularly or simply to spice up its web optimization ranking. Given that completely nothing within the article modified, I’m going with the latter.
So, what’s the takeaway? While The Watcher hasn’t been formally canceled, it’s removed from energetic growth. At greatest, it’s sitting in limbo. A 2025 launch is firmly off the desk—if it ever sees the sunshine of day in any respect.
Of course, two different Ryan Murphy collection at Netflix have had an analogous destiny. The Politician ran out its two-season upfront order earlier than going quiet, and Ratched received renewed but by no means got here to mild with an opportunity fan encounter with the central star of the present confirming it could not be returning. That’s to not point out the slew of different tasks that have been introduced and never proceeded with. That features a Marlene Dietrich collection, Outfielder, The Legend of Georgia McBride, and A Chorus Line.
Are you disillusioned that The Watcher appears to be in everlasting limbo? Let us know within the feedback down under.