HBO Stars Trying To Rescue Canceled Sci-fi Series

One of the most popular HBO shows has been canceled, and now the stars of the series are attempting to orchestrate saving the show on social media.

By Charlene Badasie | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

HBO rasied by wolves

Just days after being canceled by HBO Max, the cast of Raised by Wolves is trying to save the ill-fated show. In a series of posts on social media, Abubakar Salim asked fans to rally behind the sci-fi drama which won’t get to see its story finished due to the reshuffling at Warner Bros. But the actor is hopeful that the show can find a new home. “As we speak, Scott Free and the creatives are pushing for the show to be continued in other homes – sharing the reception and pull of the show to other storytellers,” he wrote.

Further pleading a case for Raised by Wolves, Salim said the creative team already has a complete, planned storyline, an impressive production team, and a strong fan following. The 29-year-old also cited the incredible reception the series received from critics and reviewers so it can’t be ignored. The British star went on to name various instances where canceled shows got a new lease on life. “There is no denying that we are in a time where the power of a community’s voice can make a change,” he said. Supporting the cause, Niamh Algar sent out a tweet of her own, tagging various streaming services for good measure.

Created by Aaron Guzikowski, the 10-episode first season of Raised by Wolves debuted on HBO Max in September 2020. The first two installments were directed by Ridley Scott, who also served as executive producer for the show. Not long after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season which began airing its eight episodes this February. Although the series revived a lukewarm reception for its first season, critics praised its second outing. The series even managed to earn an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 84% on Metacritic.

Originally ordered to series at Warner Media-owned cable channel TNT, Raised by Wolves follows the story of two androids named Mother and Father. After the Earth was destroyed by a great war, they are tasked with raising human children on a planet called Kepler-22b. But things get complicated as the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences. That’s when the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task.

Leading the cast of Raised by Wolves is Amanda Collin as Mother/Lamia – a powerful war android known as a necromancer reprogrammed to raise human children, and Abubakar Salim as Father – a generic service android reprogrammed to protect and support the colony’s children. Starring alongside them are Winta McGrath as Campion, Travis Fimmel as Marcus/Caleb, Niamh Algar as Sue/Mary, Jordan Loughran as Tempest, and Felix Jamieson as Paul. Ethan Hazzard, Aasiya Shah, Ivy Wong, and Matias Varela also star.

Speaking about the series’ cancellation in a statement to Variety, a spokesperson for HBO Max expressed the studio’s gratitude for the creative team who worked on the series. “While we not proceeding with a third season of Raised by Wolves, we are beyond grateful to the stellar cast and crew,” the statement said. The studio also thanked the show’s creators (Aaron Guzikowski, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker), and the entire team at Scott Free Productions, for their amazing artistry and unique ability to immerse fans into the world of Kepler-22b.