7 most unforgivable TV show cancellations of 2024
6. The Acolyte
In what might have been the most high-profile cancellation of the year, Disney Plus' The Acolyte was cancelled after just one season. The show is set in the Star Wars universe and it kicked off a brand new story, exploring a time in the franchise's expansive timeline that simply hasn't been showcased as much as some of its more famous counterparts. It also tried something different, introducing new characters and exploring a new storytelling format; operating more like a murder mystery than a Star Wars show.
The cancellation came as something of a shock to fans simply because Disney had been very vocal about how successful the first episode of the season was, announcing that the premiere episode was watched by 11 million people in five days. Unfortunately, viewership dropped significantly over the course of its first season, and as many critics pointed out that the show didn't really find its footing until halfway through its run, it was too late whenever it finally did.
And yet, one can't help but feel that The Acolyte was robbed of a chance to fulfil its true potential. Even though it underperformed by Star Wars standards, it was still a solid performer for the streamer. The issue here, however, is the show's huge budget, as reports reveal that it exceeded the already-ambitious $180 million budget, costing around $230 million. And that put enormous pressure on it to excel.
As major movie studios like Lucasfilm and Marvel play around with this new era of streaming television, they are beginning to realize that they need to reduce budgets. Marvel's Agatha All Along is a perfect example of that, gaining an opening audience of 9.3 million viewers across seven days but only having a budget of less than $40 million. Due to the show's continued popularity, strong word-of-mouth, and increased runtime, it has proven itself a success for Disney Plus.
That's how you do less-is-more. It's just a shame that they couldn't figure out a way to do the same with The Acolyte, because the show truly deserved a second season to showcase its full potential.