The ride onSnowpiercerseems to have reached its final destination earlier than planned. Despite receiving a renewal for a fourth and final season, TNT has opted to exit the Eternal Engine without broadcasting season four.
Snowpierceris based on Bong Joon-Ho’s 2013 filmof the same name, though with different storylines and characters. The show follows Andre Layton (Daveed Diggs), who leads a group of “Tailies,” or people that boarded the train illegally and resided in the tail end. The Tailies are kept in their place by those in power, specifically Head of Hospitality Melanie Cavill (Jennifer Connelly), who works for the mysterious Mr. Wilford (Sean Bean), the designer of the train.
Throughout the series, Layton leads the other Tailies in a rebellion against the Engine, with Layton ultimately assuming control by the end of season one. Mr. Wilford’s return in the second season presents a leadership challenge for Layton, with Wilford eventually retaking control. By season three, Layton is once again in power, and he uses his influence to banish Wilford and lead the train to “New Eden,” where they may be able to settle outside again.
Season four would have seen the series bring the story of the Eternal Engine to a close. Due to the early confirmationof the show’s end, the production team could plan a satisfying series finale. However, despite season four having completed production, TNT recently revealed they would not air the season. Let’s look at why they made that decision and where season four might eventually find a home.
Why Was Snowpiercer Season 4 Derailed?
Snowpiercerreceived anearly season four renewalin July 2021, months before season three had premiered. However, with the revelation that TNT would be moving away from scripted programming, season four was confirmed as the last in June 2022.
Related:Why Snowpiercer Works Better As A Television Show
Why the sudden change in direction for TNT? Well, that’s thanks to parent company, Warner Bros., merger with Discovery, which will go down in entertainment history for all the wrong reasons. First, new head honcho David Zaslav looked for any place where he could save money, which manifested in the cancelation of numerous scripted live-action and animated programs in the name of tax write-offs. One of the first and most notable instances of this came when Warner Bros. Discovery abruptly shelved the nearly completedBatgirlfilm.
Zaslav and WBD then turned to HBO Max, cutting the animation department by laying off dozens of employees and removing hit series likeInfinity Trainfrom the platform. Bad time to be a fan of dystopian shows with mysterious trains endlessly circling the world, huh?
Snowpiercer’s fourth season was completed and ready to bring Layton’s story to its end andanswer our lingering questions. But, in January 2023, just as fans were preparing for the show’s typical late-January return, Zaslav and his “tax write-offs” derailed the Eternal Engine’s farewell tour. Season four was the final season of the final scripted show on TNT, so all they needed to do was air it, and then they could be done with scripted forever. Tomorrow Studios, the production company behindSnowpiercer,has vowed to find a new home to finish out the story. So, where mightSnowpiercerland to bring this story home to the station?
Where Could Snowpiercer Season 4 Air?
At first glance, the logical place forSnowpiercerto finish its run is WBD’s in-house HBO Max (or whatever the name is after the Discovery+ merger). Several series have moved off linear television onto the streamer, with simulcasts also becoming an emerging trend, as with HBO’s mega-hitsHouse of the DragonandThe Last of Us. KeepingSnowpiercerin the WBD family would likely simplify any complex negotiations needing to take place if the show moves elsewhere. However, fans shouldn’t get their hopes up, as Zaslav doesn’t show any signs of going back on his tax write-offs. With recent claims that they are done with culling popular shows, maybe WBD will come back around.
Related:These Movies Will Make You Second Guess Ever Taking a Train
Another option, and the gold standard for canceled shows receiving second lives, is Netflix. However,Snowpiercerseason four has a crucial difference compared to other recent Netflix continuations likeManifest. Whereas Netflix produced an entirely new season ofManifest,Snowpierceris already filmed. No production is necessary, and all Netflix would need to do is release the episodes and give the fans a platform.
There may be an opening at the House of Mouse as well. While it doesn’t really fit the Disney+ vibe (mostly since it’s not family-friendly, MCU, orStar Wars-related), Hulu could be a new home. The streamer has seen success in the dystopian and thriller genres, especially with its “FX on Hulu” branding and titles likeAmerican Horror Stories,Y: The Last Man, andThe Patient. Adding the fourth season ofSnowpiercer, and potentially the first three, could help the show enjoy a long life in good dystopian thriller company.
Moving away from streaming,Snowpiercercould also keep its home on traditional linear television. AMC comes to mind, asThe Walking Dead,Breaking Bad, andBetter Call Saulwere some ofthe most acclaimed dramasin television history. In addition, keepingSnowpierceron cable television could satisfy the fans nostalgic for an era before streaming, when you could watch your shows at the same time every week.
In any case, there are endless platforms forSnowpiercerto broadcast its final season and give fans a chance to disembark from the Eternal Engine with a sense of closure. It’s now up to Tomorrow Studios to see where this train lands. In the meantime, all we can do is speculate about what season four will bring. So, what’s the deal with the rocket coming from Layton’s group’s camp anyway?
