Why Santa Clarita Diet Was Cancelled
Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled after three seasons on Netflix, with the streaming platform confirming the decision in July 2019. The show, created by Victor Fresco, followed a married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who become zombies while trying to maintain a normal suburban life. Netflix did not provide a specific reason for the cancellation, but the series had dropped in viewership metrics between seasons, a common factor in the platform's renewal decisions. The cancellation reflected Netflix's broader strategy of focusing on new titles with higher global engagement potential.
Netflix's cancellation pattern often prioritizes content that delivers strong retention and completion rates. Santa Clarita Diet, while critically appreciated, did not match the performance of the platform's top original series. The show's niche horror-comedy genre and smaller audience base made it harder to justify the production costs relative to its viewership data. Netflix typically evaluates series based on internal engagement benchmarks, and Santa Clarita Diet did not meet the thresholds for a fourth season renewal.
Santa Clarita Diet Plot and Premise
The series starred Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, a real estate agent who becomes a zombie and develops a craving for human flesh. Her husband Joel, played by Timothy Olyphant, helps her cover up the murders while they navigate suburban life in Santa Clarita, California. The show blended dark humor with zombie horror, and its premise was built around the couple's attempts to find ethical ways to source food and avoid detection by neighbors and law enforcement.
Santa Clarita Diet ran for three seasons, with the first season premiering in February 2017 and the final season releasing in March 2019. The series was produced by Netflix and Atomic Entertainment, with Victor Fresco serving as creator and showrunner. Each season consisted of ten episodes, and the show received positive reviews for its performances, particularly Barrymore's comedic and physical portrayal of a zombie navigating everyday life.
What Happened to the Cast After Cancellation
After the cancellation, Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant pursued other projects. Barrymore continued starring in and producing various film and television roles, while Olyphant remained active in both film and series work. The cast, including Liv Hewson and Skyler Gisondo, moved on to other acting opportunities, and no official revival or continuation of the series has been announced by Netflix or the production team.
The cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet became part of a broader discussion about Netflix's content strategy and the lifecycle of its original series. Fans launched online campaigns to save the show, but the platform did not reverse its decision. The series remains available on Netflix as a completed three-season run, and its legacy endures as a cult favorite among horror-comedy fans. For more information on Netflix's content decisions, see Forbes coverage of the cancellation. Details on the show's premise and production can also be found on the Wikipedia page for Santa Clarita Diet.