Netflix Sets Departure Date for ‘The Last Kingdom’ in the US
Few historical dramas have built a fan base as loyal as ‘The Last Kingdom’, and now American subscribers are about to lose easy access to it. The series follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, played by Alexander Dreymon. Uhtred strives to reclaim his birthright while being torn between the Saxon ways of his ancestry and the Viking customs under which he was raised.
The show didn’t start out as a Netflix series. After the series aired its first season on BBC Two in 2015, Netflix co-produced Season 2 and later took over ‘The Last Kingdom’ entirely from Seasons 3 through 5. That backstory is exactly why this goodbye is happening.
The departure date is now confirmed. As reported by What’s on Netflix, all five seasons (46 episodes) of ‘The Last Kingdom’ will be removed from Netflix US on December 9th, 2026. That makes December 8 the last day to watch.
The removal isn’t a surprise to anyone who has been keeping track. What’s on Netflix first reported in February that the series would begin leaving the platform in stages, and Canada already lost it in March. The US is the next region on the list.
The explanation comes down to who owns the show. The show is produced by Carnival Films, part of NBCUniversal International Studios, and Netflix held streaming rights only for a fixed term. Netflix could have paid to extend that deal, but either no agreement was reached, or the streamer decided it wasn’t worth the price.
It’s a familiar situation for licensed titles carrying the Netflix Original label. Netflix marketed later seasons as originals, but Carnival Films retains the underlying ownership. Once the exclusive window closes, the rights go back to the owner.
There’s one strange twist for US fans. ‘Seven Kings Must Die’, released in April 2023 and described as the series’ “official conclusion,” stays on Netflix until April 14, 2033, including in the US. That means American subscribers will still be able to watch the finale without the 5 seasons that lead up to it.
The feature-length film gives Uhtred a proper send-off. It adapts Cornwell’s thirteenth and final novel of ‘The Saxon Stories’, ‘War Lord’, and includes elements of the twelfth novel ‘Sword of Kings’, giving a final send-off to Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Watching it without the earlier seasons, though, would leave newcomers pretty lost.
Destiny is brutal. The Last Kingdom’s fifth and final season is now on Netflix https://t.co/iQeUXpAOnE
— Netflix (@netflix) March 9, 2022
Viewers outside the US have more breathing room. The series stays on Netflix in the UK, Australia, and most European territories until April 2028. The staggered dates follow when the final season arrived in each market.
No new US streaming home has been announced yet. Since the rights returned to Carnival Films and NBCUniversal, What’s on Netflix suggests Peacock is the obvious candidate. The outlet adds that Prime Video or BritBox could also license it.
The show is leaving at a time when people are still watching. According to Netflix’s engagement reports, the series and movie combined for 154.4 million views from 2023 to 2025. Those are strong numbers for a show whose final season premiered years ago.
The series has some well-known supporters. Coverage of its departure notes that ‘Game of Thrones’ author George R.R. Martin has highly recommended it over the years, and many fans have long called it one of the best historical dramas on the platform. For American viewers who have been putting off a rewatch, now is the time. With 46 episodes to get through before December 8, a full binge will take some planning.
How do you feel about ‘The Last Kingdom’ leaving Netflix US on December 9?
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