The Dresden Files: Sci Fi Series Cancelled After One Season
After months of uncertainty, the fantasy/mystery series has been cancelled and won’t be returning for a second season.
The Dresden Files was based on a series of novels by Jim Butcher and followed the adventures of Harry Dresden, a wizard who helped the police solve cases. The show debuted on the Sci Fi Channel on January 21, 2007 and ran for 12 episodes. Though the series’ ratings weren’t very strong, a loyal fanbase had hoped that Dresden Files would be renewed for a sophomore year. That didn’t happen and Sci Fi has now confirmed that the series is done.
Perhaps not coincidentally, this news comes on the same day that its been announced that Dresden Files star Paul Blackthorne has joined the cast of new ABC drama Big Shots. Blackthorne will play a high-powered CEO that draws the envy of characters played by Joshua Malina, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, and Michael Vartan. Big Shots will begin airing this Fall on Thursday nights, following Grey’s Anatomy on ABC. Stay tuned! 
Related links
The Dresden Files products
20. R Bills said,
Ah ****, I really was enjoying the show. I find it hard to believe an entity that calls itself the SciFi channel can cancel something like the Dresdan Files yet keep some lame Wrestling show on. Very, disappointing and downright insulting to Science Fiction/Fantasy fans. On the plus side, the TV show lead me to the books. I am in the fourth book and have a hard time putting it down. I highly recommend them.
19. Meech Seravalle said,
Its time that we stop enabling stations to do what they want with no chance of retribution.
Stop watching shows on that channel. If we did this on all the channels that cancelled our favorite shows, someone might get the hint that we are pissed.
18. AC said,
Damn, I was looking forward to season two of Dresden files. It was a slow start, but was picking up speed and was looking very promising. At the very least, its for sale on Amazon.
Execs- Please, give yourselves a cranial-analectomy and revive the series.
At least Jim Butcher is writing more.
17. Lane Mallette said,
Loved the Dresden files. Then
I read all the books and loved it even more. Already have bought the DVD, will enjoy watching it again and again. Great sound and very clear DVD image.
16. prophet said,
You would think the guys at Scifi would have learned from what happened to the series Firefly. It takes a while to build a fan base. The Dresden files would have really exploded in the second season. It had all the componets of being a hit series. It had alot original story lines. Will the TV gods never learn from past mistakes. How big would Star Trek have been after 12 episodes.
15. Anita said,
This was a great show. I went out and bought all of his books once I realized the show was made from them. I wonder why all the good shows get canceled? Hello, it usually takes more then a few episodes to generate interest and obtain a viewership. Last season Mr. Smith and The Nines was canceled after only a few episodes.
Who runs these studios? What imbicile makes these decisions? Maybe they should work at McDonald’s instead.
14. Nan Nicoll said,
WolvenSpectre said s/he might try the books. I HIGHLY recommend the books. They’re even better than the TV series. Author Jim Butcher is a great storyteller/wordsmitht and begins one of the Dresden books with the following: “The whole buildig was on fire and this time it wasn’t my fault.”
The books are Great Fun!
Dresden gets the snot kicked out of him every book but is victorius and Bob the skull loves trashy romance novels and sometimes “possesses” Dresden’s tomcat to go out for a… er… a stroll.
Cheers!
13. HarrysMouse said,
I loved this show.
This should have been the next great show on SFC.
Instead the eps were aired out of order, the pilot was scrapped and re-edited, and the time-slot changed during a short 9 ep season.
Still the ratings were just a tad below BSG ( the flagship show on SFC ).
All I can hope for is to see The Dresden Files on another network sometime soon. LGE will hopefully sell it elsewhere and make a boatload of bucks.
12. Troy Holaday said,
The bright side? The show led me to the books, which are better. I do regret that the show was canceled, though. It wasn’t the best thing on TV, but it was pretty damn good for a first season product. I had high hopes.
11. David Piel said,
I’m disappointed that they canceled Dresden. I get the impression that SciFi gave a weak hearted effort in promoting Dresden. A shame, I was hoping that scifi execs would have been more patient and taken the long view to the show. Not to mention, promoting their own shows on the sister networks.
10. Zarina said,
How can Sci-Fi Channel justify airing Flash and renewing Painkiller Jane (both deplorable shows) & Wrestling (SO not SF) yet so far NOT renew one of the FEW shows that they got EXACTLY right - the Dresden Files??!!
Sci-Fi has the PERFECT show for the year of Potter Fever - their very own ADULT WIZARD!! Harry Potter fans, mystery fans, & sci-fi fans have fallen in love with wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden because the show is exceptionally well-written, superbly acted & directed, has excellent character chemistry, and get this - original stories!!
So what does Sci-Fi Channel do with their little golden-egg-laying goose??!
They don’t renew it. That’s right - they LET IT DIE (apparently something about the demographic being too old (30+) and female — weird, considering SF is run by Bonnie Hammer who is in that same demographic…).
I wonder what they’re thinking NOW because the Dresden Files hasn’t been on since APRIL, hasn’t had ANY re-runs, NO advertising, NOTHING - and the DVD’s are STILL 30th in OVERALL DVD Sales at Amazon, & 7th at Barnes & Noble (8/11)!! You know what that SAYS?? It says that people, viewers, CUSTOMERS realize this is a QUALITY show and are willing to spend money so they can see more of it!!
Come on Sci-Fi! Renew the Dresden Files!! And as for the REST of the channels/networks - if Sci-Fi can’t see the gem they have, then one of YOU need to snatch it up!!
We fans have been campaigning since April with NO response, but we’re stepping it up with a New Home 4 Dresden Petition which currently has over 770 signatures & comments and we’ve launched a new initiative to prove to series producer Lionsgate that the Dresden Files is a money-maker: the “WIN HARRY” RAFFLE running from 8/8/07 through 9/8/07 to help support the campaign.
So don’t count us fans (many of us in that scorned demographic) out yet! We love our wizard & want him back! What’s more - we’re just about to get serious.
9. Anonymous said,
most shows that i like are canceled
8. Carolyn said,
This absolutely sucks! Finally a show made from well-written books, and acted with intelligence, and of course, it’s cancelled. I am 59, a sci-fi reader and watcher of many years and I am supremely disappointed that sci-fi gave this up for “Flash Gordon..” oh joy!
7. marty said,
I am very disapointed to hear this. It seems like the Sci Fi channel just cant see a good thing when they have it. I guess they would rather run endless natural disaster movies or horrible giant sized animals attack movies than something with some substance and style. Doctor Who may be the only reason to watch sci fi at this point.
6. ionwomen said,
I can’t beleive that this is canceled. with all the reality **** on tv, i switched over and got hooked on this show. Ya, it wasn;t teh best but it was better then watching those reality shows. they should start asking the fans what they want and dont want on tv..it’s almost getting to the point of why should i start watching a new show, it only gets canceled after its run!!!! maybe going back to radio would be the best bet, they haven’t canceled stations in years. all the shows, like Jordon, Jericho, Alien, Probably we will hear next that Heartland will be cancled.
just FED_UP!
5. PAUL MINCY said,
OF COURSE IT IS NOT COMMING BACK. ALL GOOD SHOWS WIND UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE THE STUPID ONES ARE BACK ANOTHER YEAR.THIS JUST MAKES IT EASIER FOR READING TO TAKE PLACE OF TV WATCHING.WHAT AM I READING THE DRESDEN FILES.
4. A fan said,
My husband and I were hoping beyond hope that this show would be renewed. It had just scratched the surface of what it could become and now we will never know. Thankfully because of the show I found the books and love them. There’s also an RPG begin developed….looks like you can’t keep a good wizard down.
3. Christy said,
I am devestated by the news of this show being cancelled! It was one of my favorite shows! I look forward to seeing Paul Blackthorne in another show. Guess I won’t be watching SciFi anymore.
2. WolvenSpectre said,
Unfortunately I can’t say that I am surprised.
I liked The Dresden Files, and I liked the preformances of most of the regular cast, but the show just wasn’t implimented the right way and the sereis wide arc was a little scatterbrained like it couldn’t make up its mind.
If I was Pual Blackthorne, I probably make the same choice if it were left up to me.
If anything though, it may have piqued my curiousity enough to try the books.
1. nighteyes said,
Bummer, I love “The Dresden Files” show. Sucks it was cancelled but then again aren’t most good shows cancelled. What other good shows were cancelled: Jericho, Crossing Jordan, and Daybreak. What happens to shows is all the dam moving the shows around to different time slots. Like Jericho was doing great until they moved it to another night and it went up against American Idol. Morons. Don’t move a good thing to another night or have it go up against a highly rated show.. duh!
I did read that Paul Blackthorne will be on a new tv series: “Big Shots” which also stars: Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott.