Why Season 2 of Netflix's Resident Evil Was Canceled in 2026

netflix    has officially canceled Resident Evil end August 2022, just over a month after the series’ release. The reason is stark: a dramatic drop in viewership starting in the second week, compounded by a frosty reception from fans of the franchise.

A not very profitable season

The launch, however, wasn't a disaster. Released on July 14, 2022, the series has amassed 72.7 million hours viewed during his first week. This score earned him the 2nd place among the world's top 10 netflix   , right behind the Season 4 of Stranger Things.

The problem arises as soon as the second week : Viewership is plummeting. At the third week, the series disappears entirely from the rankings. It's the media Deadline which was the first to report the cancellation, before Netflix made it official.

For Netflix, the logic is clear: without audience loyalty, there won't be a second season. Resident Evil is not, in fact, the only victim of this rule. The comedy Blockbuster suffered exactly the same fate, being canceled after just one season due to low ratings.

A well-crafted cast

Netflix didn't hold back when it came to casting. The production brought together a strong cast for this adaptation of the saga Capcom, one of the most famous video games in the world:

• Ella Balinska embodies Adult Jade Wesker, the central character of the plot.
• Tamara Smart plays the younger version of Jade.
• Adeline Rudolph serves as Billie Wesker.
• Paola Núñez camp Evelyn Marcus.
• Lance Reddick, a renowned actor who died in march 2023, performs the famous Albert Wesker.

Despite those names in the credits, fans weren't sold on it. Good actors aren't enough to save a series when the script isn't compelling.

A series over-criticized by fans

The series revolves around a deadly virus, epidemics of zombies and the secrets of the multinational corporation Umbrella Corporation. The showrunner Andrew Dabb wrote the screenplay. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic future, far removed from the atmosphere of Raccoon City beloved by fans of the original video game.

Fans of the saga were quickly disappointed. The main criticism: the series strays too far from the game lore Capcom, to the point of seeming to have no Resident Evil than just the name. Many also feel that not much happens in the eight episodes of this first season.

On social media, criticism piled up very quickly. Some viewers even claim to have stopped watching as soon as the Episode 2. This widespread rejection was enough to convince Netflix not to renew the show.

This adaptation thus joins the long list of movies and TV series based on video games that have failed to find an audience. The movie Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City of Johannes Roberts, released in 2021, had also received a mixed reception despite a deliberate return to its roots compared to the films from Paul W.S. Anderson. 

In contrast, adaptations such as Wednesday have been a huge hit on the platform, building a loyal audience week after week.