WGN America’s award-winning original series is coming to an end, the network has announced. Underground’s second season, which concluded on May 10, will be its last.
Peter Kern, President and CEO of WGN’s parent company Tribune Media, explained the decision in a statement:
Despite Underground being a terrific and important series, it no longer fits with our new direction and we have reached the difficult decision not to renew it for a third season. We are tremendously proud of this landmark series that captured the zeitgeist and made an impact on television in a way never before seen on the medium.
Kern summarized the network’s new direction as follows:
As WGN America evolves and broadens the scope and scale of its portfolio of series, we recently announced that resources will be reallocated to a new strategy to increase our relevance within the rapidly changing television landscape. This move is designed to deliver additional value for our advertising and distribution partners and offer viewers more original content across our air.
Showrunner Misha Green recently spoke with Paste about the then-uncertain future of the show, noting, “I’m not afraid of the unknown. It intrigues me. I just wanna keep making stuff that—in a very selfish way—I find interesting.” All indications are she’ll do just that—Green recently signed on as showrunner and writer for the Jordan Peele-produced HBO series Lovecraft Country.
Kern concluded his statement by noting, “It is our hope that this remarkable show finds another home and continues its stories of courage, determination and freedom.” We at Paste wholeheartedly second him.