Canceled Netflix Hit Show That Sparked a Global Fan Outcry Might Get a Sequel

Six years after Netflix canceled The OA, fans are hopeful the series might come back. The show’s future was a hot topic during a recent interview on Jo Whiley’s BBC radio show, where Jason Isaacs, who played Dr. Hunter Aloysius “Hap” Percy, shared some exciting news.

Isaacs said, “Zal [Batmanglij] and Brit [Marling] and I had dinner last week in Los Angeles, and there’s no chance for letting it go.” He added, “That’s all I can say. Not because I’m keeping secrets from you, but because we will not let it go.”

The OA was created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij and first premiered on Netflix in 2016. The show mixes science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural elements, telling the story of Prairie Johnson (played by Marling).

Prairie disappeared when she was a child and suddenly came back years later with her sight restored. She calls herself “The OA,” short for “Original Angel,” and gathers five strangers for a secret mission.

Critics loved the show, and it quickly gained a loyal fanbase. The creators originally planned for The OA to have five seasons, but Netflix canceled it in 2019 after the second season’s cliffhanger ending.

This cancellation surprised and upset many fans, who started a worldwide campaign to save the series. Brit Marling expressed how sad she and Batmanglij felt about the cancellation, saying they were “deeply sad not to finish this story.”

After the cancellation, the creators were offered a chance to make a movie to wrap up the story. However, as Batmanglij explained, “since three seasons were still planned, it would force us to bring the three [remaining and planned] seasons into one and close it up,” which would not have been a fitting way to end the story fans loved.

Even years after the show ended, the cast and creators continue to hope for its return. Marling told The Wrap in 2023, “We think about that story all the time.” In 2024, Brandon Perea, who plays Alfonso “French” Sosa, shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “I have a feeling it’s not over. I think they have a way to continue the story.”

Since the cancellation, fans have kept the show alive online by sharing fan theories, art, and petitions. Many still watch the first two seasons on Netflix, hoping for news about a comeback. The passionate support from fans and the dedication of the creators and cast have kept The OA’s story alive, even years after it ended.

Whether The OA will ever return is still unknown, but the recent comments from Jason Isaacs and others involved show they are not giving up on the show. For now, fans can enjoy the existing episodes and keep hoping that one day, the story of The OA will continue.

Statements taken from Jo Whiley’s BBC radio show.

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