The Peripheral won’t be coming back for a second season after all.
In February 2022, a little over two months after the series wrapped up its eight-episode season 1 on Amazon Prime Video, the streaming platform announced that the show was coming back for season 2. This, however, is no longer the case. Read on to find out what happened to the sci-fi series.
Did Amazon Prime Video cancel The Peripheral?
Yes, Amazon Prime Video canceled The Peripheral. On August 18, 2023, Variety and other news outlets reported that the streaming service opted not to continue the series despite its previously announced season 2.
Why was The Peripheral season 2 canceled?
An individual with knowledge of the situation told Variety that Amazon Prime Video’s decision to not move forward with season 2 of The Peripheral was heavily influenced by the ongoing writers and actors strikes. The news outlet pointed out that if the show was to return to production soon, the sophomore run would not premiere until close to if not into 2025.
What is The Peripheral about?
Set roughly a decade in the future, with new technology that has changed society in subtle ways, The Peripheral centers on Flynne Fisher (Chloë Grace Moretz), a VR gamer who discovers a secret connection to an alternate reality as well as a dark future of her own. Trying to hold together the pieces of her broken family in a forgotten corner of tomorrow’s America, the smart yet doomed Flynne has no future; until the future comes calling for her.
Loosely based on the 2014 book of the same name by William Gibson, The Peripheral was developed Scott B. Smith, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series was exec produced by Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy via Kilter Films, along with Athena Wickham, Steven Hoban, and Vincenzo Natali.
The Peripheral season 2 cast
When The Peripheral season 2 was first announced, it was assumed that most of the show’s main cast would return for the show’s sophomore run.
In addition to Moretz, The Peripheral’s season 1 regulars included Gary Carr as Wilf Netherton, Jack Reynor as Burton Fisher, JJ Feild as Lev Zubov, T’Nia Miller as Cherise Nuland, Louis Herthum as Corbell Pickett, Katie Leung as Ash, Melinda Page Hamilton as Ella Fisher, Chris Coy as Jasper Baker, Alex Hernandez as Tommy Constantine, Julian Moore-Cook as Ossian, Adelind Horan as Billy Ann Baker, Austin Rising as Leon, Eli Goree as Conner Penske, Charlotte Riley as Aelita West, and Alexandra Billings as Inspector Ainsley Lowbeer.
The Peripheral release date
The Peripheral season 1 premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 21, 2022, and ended on December 2, 2022.
Is The Peripheral worth watching?
If you love hard sci-fi, then you would likely enjoy The Peripheral. Casual fans of the genre would probably find it a lot to take in, as nearly every nugget of information is important. But that’s the beauty of it – its detailed and impressive world-building, paired with its stunning visuals and impressive performance of the cast, makes it an entertaining sci-fi series. Sometimes, however, the show’s focus on its lofty ideas comes at the expense of the narrative’s coherence. Season 1 of The Peripheral has a critics rating of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Peripheral trailer
Haven’t seen The Peripheral yet? You can watch the official trailer for the series below:
