Subscribers of Netflix likely already know that one of the platform’s biggest shows is officially coming to an end. However, they may not know that its announced spin-off is reportedly no longer in the works.
The decision to cancel the spin-off came as a surprise to many fans who were eagerly anticipating a continuation of the beloved world. Despite the initial excitement surrounding the spin-off announcement, Netflix has decided to shift its focus to other projects.
While the news may be disappointing, it is not a new trend with the streaming platform. They have shown in the past that they will cancel shows even if they have a loyal following. The reasons surrounding the latest cancellation, however, are a little different.
The Sparrow Academy is apparently no longer in the works. This was revealed by Rolling Stone, via Whats-on-Netflix, when the publication covered allegations made against The Umbrella Academy showrunner Steve Blackman. The showrunner has been accused of inappropriate behavior while working on the hit series, though Blackman through his representative has denied any such claims.
The Sparrow Academy is a rival to the flagship show’s Umbrella Academy, introduced as the result of a timeline alteration. The Netflix spin-off would have followed this group which includes Justin Cornwell’s Marcus Hargreeves, Justin H. Min’s Ben, Britne Oldford’s Fei, Jake Epstein’s Alphonso, Genesis Rodriguez’s Sloane, Cazzie David’s Jayme, and Christopher, a cube that only the Sparrows could hear.
According to the publication, the fate of The Sparrow Academy is akin to that of similar other shows being developed by Steve Blackman. Though he’s simply been said to no longer be involved in the original report, another account claims that both Orbital and Horizon Zero Dawn have been shelved.
It’s unknown if these cancellations have anything to do with the accusations being made against Blackman, though we’ll likely have more information soon. For fans of The Umbrella Academy, however, and those who wanted to see The Sparrow Academy – they’re no doubt bound to be disappointed. The Umbrella Academy is set to end with its fourth season airing on August 8, 2024.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any further updates on this situation as we have them. It’s unclear what will happen following the allegations made against Blackman, though we do know that The Umbrella Academy is absolutely coming to an end and so has its spin-off before it even had a chance to get off the ground.