Netflix Shut Down Controversial Series Messiah After Just One Season
John V.
Posted On March 27, 2020
Cast member confirmed that Netflix has canceled Messiah after just one series.
This thriller received very mixed reviews following its release on 1. January but star Wil Traval said in a post on Instagram that the show had been cancelled.
He said: “It’s a very sad day today. I have just received news from Netflix that there will be no season 2 of #messiah I wanted to say to all the fans thank you for your support and love. I wish things were different.”
According to Variety, one of the reasons why Netflix decided to discontinue the series is because it involved shooting in numerous different countries, which it felt may be logistically challenging given the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the show’s depiction of religious matters has also attracted controversy from viewers, with some threatening to cancel their Netflix subscriptions as a result of the show.
The show is set in the present day and sees a CIA agent, played by Mission Impossible: Fallout star Michelle Monaghan, assigned the case of a mysterious man called Al-Massih.
The crux of the matter is that Al-Massih – played by London Has Fallen’s Mehdi Dehbi – claims that he is the true son of God.
Lots of people weren’t happy with the premise, feeling it was either too real – that is to say, a damning prediction of things to come – or just straight up disrespectful.
Many people on social media said they would boycott Netflix as a result and even the Royal Film Commission of Jordan (RFC) called for it not to be streamed in the country – where some of the series was shot.
In a statement, the commission said: “Having been made aware of [the show’s] content, the RFC has asked officially the management of Netflix to refrain from streaming it in Jordan.
“The story is purely fictional and so are the characters, yet the RFC deems that the content of the series could be largely perceived or interpreted as infringing on the sanctity of religion.
“While still standing firmly by its principles, notably the respect of creative freedom, the RFC – as a public and responsible institution – cannot condone or ignore messages that infringe on the Kingdom’s basic laws.”
This request was ignored, but now the RFC can rest at ease knowing they won’t have a second series to worry about, while fans of the show will have to accept that the unanswered questions from the first series will remain unanswered.
