Netflix Quietly Axes Fan-Favorite Sci-Fi Series Despite Rave Reviews— Writer Confirms It’s Over After Just One Season

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After much anticipation, it’s been confirmed that Terminator Zero won’t be returning for another season. The animated series, which debuted on Netflix almost two years ago, has been cancelled.

Netflix created an animated series inspired by James Cameron’s Terminator universe, using an anime style. While the show initially sparked interest with partners like Production I.G and Skydance Television, a lack of updates after its debut left fans wondering if it would continue.

The question of whether ‘Terminator Zero’ would continue has been answered. Writer Mattson Tomlin recently told fans on X that the project has been cancelled and won’t be coming back in any way.

Tomlin explained that while the show started strong, it lost viewers quickly. Netflix data showed ‘Terminator Zero’ was in the global top 10 for just two weeks after its release, initially attracting around 3 million views. This contrasts with ‘Blue Eye Samurai,’ another animated series that gained much more attention upon release and was subsequently renewed for another season.

The show was unfortunately cancelled, despite receiving fantastic reviews and a lot of positive feedback. While many people loved it, viewership just wasn’t high enough to continue. I had big plans for future seasons, focusing on a larger war storyline, but I’m also content with the show as a complete, self-contained story.

— mattson tomlin (@mattsontomlin) February 13, 2026

Despite the show’s eventual cancellation, Tomlin described his collaboration with Netflix as a good experience. He appreciated their willingness to let him create the story he envisioned, even though it was a lengthy and expensive production. He explained that the show required a large audience to justify its cost, but unfortunately, it didn’t attract enough viewers.

Netflix was a fantastic partner, giving me a lot of creative control over the show. It was a costly and lengthy production, and ultimately, it didn’t attract enough viewers to justify the investment.

— mattson tomlin (@mattsontomlin) February 13, 2026

The writer shared that he’s already written scripts for a second season and has a general outline for much of a third. He suggested the overall story he envisioned was even more extensive than fans might think. He mentioned he might one day detail his plans for a full five seasons, explaining that the season one finale was intentionally crafted as a setup for future storylines.

Netflix suggested a brief conclusion to finish the story, but Tomlin decided against it. He believed the ending was already strong and that adding more episodes wouldn’t enhance the overall concept. He explained, “The season one finale actually left things in a good place.”

Okay, so the news about the project being shelved is a bummer, but I was really heartened to hear Linda Hamilton hasn’t completely closed the door on revisiting the Terminator universe. She mentioned she might come back to it down the line, even if it’s in a different capacity. It’s clear she still feels a strong connection to the franchise, which is fantastic to hear as a longtime fan.

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2026-02-13 19:17