NBC has canceled The Hunting Party, a crime drama series starring Melissa Roxburgh, after two seasons. The show was the last scripted series on the network awaiting a final decision regarding its future. Universal Television, the producer of the series, is reportedly looking to find a new home for the show.
NBC's Programming Decisions
Lisa Katz, president of scripted content for NBC and Peacock, mentioned that discussions were ongoing regarding the show's future ahead of NBC's upfront presentation in May. The cancellation decision comes three weeks after NBC announced its 2026-27 season schedule, which omitted The Hunting Party. At that time, network executives indicated that a final decision had not been made, even though the show's linear ratings had declined during its second season. However, the series saw a boost in streaming numbers when its first season was released on Netflix in February.
New Shows Take Priority
NBC has ordered four new scripted series for the upcoming season, which contributed to the decision to drop The Hunting Party, along with the second-year drama Brilliant Minds and the new comedy Stumble. Jeff Bader, president of program planning strategy at NBC, explained that the network's tight schedule required them to prioritize potential growth opportunities. He noted that while the network appreciated The Hunting Party, it did not perform well enough on linear platforms to secure a third season, despite its streaming performance being under review.
Ratings and Cast Details
During its second season, The Hunting Party averaged 3.7 million viewers after a week of DVR playback, a 13 percent decrease from its first season. The series stars Roxburgh as a former FBI profiler leading a team tasked with capturing escaped dangerous criminals from a secret prison. The cast also includes Nick Weschler, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie, and Sara Garcia.
Creators and Production Team
Created by JJ Bailey, The Hunting Party had Bailey serving as co-showrunner with Jake Coburn. Both were also executive producers alongside Thor Freudenthal and Michael Jones Morales. The series' future now hinges on Universal Television's efforts to find a new platform willing to continue the story.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-hunting-party-canceled-nbc-2-seasons-1236612124/
