Netflix’s decision to cancel Santa Clarita Diet in 2019 left fans and its creator, Victor Fresco, feeling blindsided and disappointed. The dark comedy, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, followed a suburban couple navigating life after the wife’s transformation into a zombie. Despite its dedicated fanbase, Netflix axed the show after its third season, ending it on an unresolved cliffhanger.
Victor Fresco recently revealed that he learned about the cancellation in a particularly upsetting way—not through an official announcement, but when his assistant discovered that the show’s sets were being dismantled. Reflecting on the situation, Fresco shared his frustrations, explaining that the team deliberately ended season three with a cliffhanger, hoping it would incentivize Netflix to renew the series.
Fans have voiced their anger over the abrupt cancellation and Netflix’s handling of the news. Many believe the show’s premature end was due to financial incentives in Netflix’s contracts, which reportedly discourage fourth and fifth seasons unless a show is a massive hit like Stranger Things.
The incident highlights ongoing frustrations among creators and fans about Netflix’s approach to content renewal and its impact on storytelling. Despite the backlash, Santa Clarita Diet remains a beloved cult classic.
