Netflix Cancels Terminator Zero After One Season

Terminator Zero has been canceled after just one season. The news was shared by series creator Mattson Tomlin, who confirmed that Netflix will not move forward with a second season of the animated reboot.

In a post on X, Tomlin said the show received strong reviews from critics and fans, but not enough people watched it to justify another season.

“The critical and audience reception to it was tremendous, but at the end of the day not nearly enough people watched it,” he wrote. “I would’ve loved to deliver on the Future War I had planned in seasons two and three, but I’m also very happy with how it feels contained as is.”

Set After Terminator 2

The anime-style series picks up directly after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day and unfolds across two timelines.

In 2022, humanity is locked in a long-running war against machines. In 1997, the artificial intelligence Skynet becomes self-aware and begins its attack on humankind.

The story follows a soldier from the future, played by Sonoya Mizuno, who travels back to 1997 to protect scientist Malcolm Lee, portrayed by André Holland. Malcolm is working on a new AI system, voiced by Rosario Dawson, that could rival Skynet.

As Malcolm struggles with the moral consequences of creating powerful artificial intelligence, a deadly assassin from the future hunts him down, putting his three children in danger and threatening to change the course of history.

Unfinished Plans for the Franchise

Tomlin said he had bigger plans for the show, including a five-season arc. He revealed that he had already written all of the scripts for season two and outlined much of season three.

“Maybe someday I’ll do a big thread about the plans I had for the full five-season run,” he said, adding that he may return to the world of Terminator Zero in another form in the future.

Tomlin served as creator, writer and showrunner on the series. He also executive produced alongside Skydance executives David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger. The show was directed by Masashi Kudo, with animation handled by Production I.G.

For now, Terminator Zero will stand as a single-season entry in the long-running Terminator franchise.