Why did Netflix cancel Dead Boy Detectives?

Netflix is ​​known for canceling shows early in their run. Sometimes, this means that a show may not run for several seasons. The truth is, a lot of streaming originals are lucky to get three seasons. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for these shows to become one-offs. Such was the case with Dead Boy Detectives, a TV show set in one of the weirder corners of the DC Universe. Despite those ties with DC, they only lasted one season. But why?

“Dead Boy Detectives” was part of the “Doom Patrol” universe, but it was also part of the world of Netflix’s “The Sandman.” “Doom Patrol” has always had a strange place in the DC Universeand eventually spawned a spin-off show that took place in a different world. Anyway, the series came at a time when DC was in a state of flux, trying to get its ducks on the big and small screens.

originally, “Dead Boy Detectives” was in development at HBO Max Before it was rebranded to just Max. When things started to change behind the scenes, the series ended up being sold to Netflix, as part of a growing universe of shows based on the works of writer Neil Gaiman. It made sense on paper. Unfortunately, once the offer arrived, it didn’t quite work out.

diverse Reports said in August this year that Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives had been canceled after just one season. It didn’t take long for the authorities to make the decision either, as the show premiered in April. As the outlet noted at the time, the show reached No. 2 on Netflix’s most-watched TV charts, recording 3.1 million views in its first three days. Sadly, it dropped out of the top ten charts completely by the end of its third week. This was undoubtedly the biggest factor in its early demise.

Dead Boy Detectives focuses on Edwin Payne (George Rextraw) and Charles Rowland (Jaeden Revery), and the “minds” and “brains” of the Dead Boy Detectives agency. Born decades apart, the teens found each other in death, becoming best friends who happened to be ghosts. They now solve the mysteries with the help of a fortune teller named Crystal (Cassius Nelson) and her friend Nico (Yuyo Kitamura).

The series was developed for television by Steve Yockey, who serves as co-director alongside Beth Schwartz. Senior TV producer Greg Berlanti, One of the main architects of the CW’s ArrowverseAnd he was on board too. Unfortunately for Yockey and the team, Dead Boy Detectives had a tough road through development, starting out as a backdoor pilot for Doom Patrol before being packaged for HBO Max, and eventually being sold to Netflix.

Another problem is that the offer probably wasn’t cheap. Gaiman has explained this previously Season 2 of “The Sandman” may not be released because the show was too expensive. This show has been renewed, but it has also received a much larger viewership. For Netflix, it’s all about how interested its subscriber base is in the show, balancing that against the cost of producing said show. Looks like “Dead Boy Detectives” didn’t clear that tape.

The other thing to consider is that Gaiman was accused of sexual misconduct earlier this year in July. Various productions based on the author’s works were subsequently discontinued The Guardian. This may have factored into Netflix’s decision as well. Although critics largely liked the show, it wasn’t enough to overpower everything else in play.

Dead Boy Detectives is now streaming on Netflix.