NBC has cancelled the crime drama procedural The Hunting Party after just two seasons. The series, whose final episode aired on May 7, 2026, might continue elsewhere, as Universal Studios is expected to pitch it to other networks, with Netflix, which streams it in the US, likely to be the next home.
The series followed Rebbeca Bex Anderson, a former FBI profiler played by Melissa Roxburgh, who led a small team of investigators that was brought together to track and arrest the world’s most dangerous killers who escaped from a top government prison that was not supposed to exist.
However, Bex finds out that the prison itself is more twisted than the dangerous fugitives because it wasn’t just a prison.
Other cast members of the show created by JJ Bailey, who also served as the showrunner alongside Jake Coburn, include Josh McKenzie, Nick Wechsler and Patrick Sabongui.
The Hunting Party executive producers included director Thor Freudenthal, Bailey, Coburn and writer Jones Morales.
Why was The Hunting Party cancelled on NBC?
The Hunting Party was among the last series to be broadcast in 2025-2026, whose fate was yet to be determined after NBC postponed the decision as its executives took time to evaluate the series’s performance on streaming and linear television.
Speaking to Deadline in May, NBCUniversal President of Planning and Strategy Jeff Bader stated that the network needed to do more for its linear scheduling.
“We’re looking for places where we can grow the network, and that is a time period where we think we can do better. Nothing negative about Hunting Party, but for our linear schedule, we absolutely need to try and do a little bit better there,” he said.
When The Hunting Party, season 1, was unveiled on Netflix in the US, it got strong viewership, which did not lead to linear gains on NBC for the second season, as they remained flat throughout the season.
How did fans react to The Hunting Party cancellation?
The Hunting Party fans reacted to the cancellation with disappointment, frustration, and confusion.
“Never seen it, but wondering what’s going on with NBC. They’ve cancelled like 9 shows this season. Are they losing a tonne of money or a new network executive cleaning house?” one user said on Reddit.
Others expressed concern over NBC’s growing list of cancelled shows, and others questioned whether the network is cutting costs or restructuring.
“I hope Netflix picks it up…words I never thought I’d say. I was hoping that not getting an immediate cancellation was a good sign, but apparently not. This isn’t even NBC, but I’m still mad about Doctor Odyssey,” another user said.