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! 
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80. jhawk3rd said,
Wow, what is the SciFi Channel doing? “The Dresden Files” was a great show. I liked everything about it. Sometimes it does take a while for shows with substance (”Farscape”) to catch on while others are an instant hit (”Battle Star Galactica”), but they are still shows that are well beyond the poorly produced “Pain Killer Jane”, “Flash Gordon”, and any of those orginal SciFi Saturday movies. I hope they another network realizes how good Harry Dresden could be to their network and decide to give them a chance. As for me, this channel is becoming one of my least favorite to watch, and I am sure that I am not the only one who feels the same way. Get it right SciFi before you start killing your fan base.
79. Anonymous said,
Really enjoyed the Dresdan Files. I don’t think Big Shots made it. If that is the case would Paul come back and do a second season? Hope so.
78. hilda said,
Hey I really liked the dresden files and was waiting for it to come back on. I did buy the dvd collection. But I hope they will do it again some time like they did star trek because the people wanted it.
77. farrah said,
man scfi sicks now they change the tradional scfi to wrestling and bad movies.
76. lex said,
I hope sci fi reads these comments because people won`t watch this if they continue this **** …just choose a show and continue it untill the end ..not make 1 serie then cancell it ..it just pisses people off and soon they`re be making shows for no one
75. ctaishah said,
what!! i cant believe it.. just watch the first episode yesterday.. and loved it.
74. Abu Tarleyb said,
I loved the intro music, the writing, the chemistry between the actors, the sets… The Dresden Files was one of the few shows I watched, and I watched it on iTunes. I don’t even own a TV. But from the very first episode that show had me hooked. The execs at SciFi must be on crack. They trashed a show that had legendary cult potential… bigger than Star Trek. Cuz one of these days, the little folks are going to Graduate from Hogswarts. You Dig?
73. Mark said,
I can’t believe it. They are following in the foot steps of Fox. What a great show!!
Why can’t any of my shows stay on the air? Firefly, Dresden Files???
72. Truly Charmed said,
Oh, this takes the cake! What? Dresden files not to return? Sci fi has gone Sci Crazy. We (adults) finally had a show on this channel that was worth watching and didn’t seem as though it was a low budget production and they cancel? Who comes up with this mess? They really should survey the fans to see if we want to continue or even if there’s enough of a fan base to continue, providing us with the permanent day and time of the shows airing. This takes me back to when they cancelled The Burning Zone. Someone needs to be fired.
71. Zarina said,
Fans are STILL fighting for the return of the Dresden Files! We held a ‘virtual sit-in’ on 11/16 to celebrate the airing of the first repeat of the series since the end of Season 1 and will be doing so each Friday and during each repeat airing. This show is heavily supported, and we fans will continue to campaign for the return of the show! dresdencity.org
and groups.google.com/group/new-home-4-dresden
Join us.
70. Marc said,
SCIFI channel is going down the toilet. Cancelling The Dresden Files is just another example. Between the ECW **** and all the ED commercials I have given up. Thank God for TIVO so I can still watch the 2 hours of “quality” SCIFI each week and edit out the garbage!!!
69. Andrew said,
Everyone who posted a comment seems to love this show. Just for your information, if you sent a letter it counts as 15 people. A phone call I believe is worth 50. If we could start up a telemarketing campaign against television stations that cancel great shows like Firefly, Jericho, The Dresden Files, Dead Like Me, etc. I think they might get the point.
68. Lanelle said,
Is this where I post about how very much I enjoy the ECW and Flash Gordon? Really? Oh, oh uh yeah sorry. Duh!! Sci Fi had a great thing going with Dresdan Files and they decided that they would go with programming that was far less entertaining and desirable. (honestly does ECW belong on the Sci Fi channel?) I watched the show faithfully every week and eagerly awaited each new episode. Just as other viewers I kind of figured Harry would be back when Eureka went on sabbatical but alas!! it was not to be. Instead the programmers took Harry to a back room and apparently locked him in an enchanted closet with Bob never to be seen by our mortal eyes again! And, just as other viewers I have decided to boycott the Sci Fi channel!!!! I haven’t watched anything there since, including Battlestar. I mean, who cares anyway? Dresdan was my draw, I saw my advertisements for other shows of interest during Dresdan Files and now that I don’t have them anymore I have no idea what’s going on nor care. What a shame! (aside to the programmer–do you read any of these posts by the faithful followers of the popular programs you air? Do you care that our advertising dollars are no longer yours to direct? Do you care that perhaps your viewership has fallen because of lack of exposure over disappointment in what you choose to air? This is money in your pockets boys and in this economy you really can’t afford a gigantic tear like the one you’ve created here!)
67. chris said,
SciFi got rid of Dresden for Flash Gordon. What are they thinking? Dresden became a very good show.
66. phil martin said,
typical and well said by so many, typically canned for the satisfaction of the critics, when are you people going to stop listening to the so called critics and start listening to what matters “the public” you just didnt give it a chance, so typical! so what r u going to air now another repeat series we all seen twelve times over
65. Talyn777 said,
My whole family is disappointed that the show has been cancelled. Like Firefly, this one was building in fan base just as they cancelled it. When will the networks learn to be a little patient and have some faith? We’d still like to see it come back, but it looks like a done deal now. - T
64. JT said,
Im in Australia and have seen all the Dresden episodes, infact most of my Mates have seen them as well. Only thru the Net have i even been able to get a sneak peak into shows that i consider great yet don’t get a full season and thus do not make it over to our sunny shores.
I feel ripped that this was the only 1/2 season that Dresden files got, Having some rewrapped and fresh story arcs was great and i was sure that the writers were improving with every show they got out onto the airwaves.. In short someone please pick this show up, with a few tweaks it could easily get a nice 4-5 season run.
Cheers
63. Marise Otto said,
We only started watching the Desden files now, and then it is almost finished. That is not good. Loved the show….
62. Mike said,
Star Trek, Firefly. Anyone up for a good Dresden Files movie. Good sci-fi shows take time to mature into greatness.
61. Milton Reid said,
Needless to say, I am sad to see another good show get scrapped.
I’ve read elsewhere that location was an issue with the show…getting out of Toronto, trying to get into Edmonton?!? Maybe they should have tried Vancouver..but we will never know.
As with most shows, the folks that matter as to it’s future, can’t or won’t give the show enough development. If a show has a solid 1st yr, then it’s only seems logical to see the characters develop and build through a second season. If a show dies in the first five episodes, fine, let it go, but give the good ones a shot. I could lambaste the times a network has chosen junk to fill our perceived visual voids. Add that to the rule that Networks don’t like sci-fi shows & you get the typical treatment of sci-fi fans.
Funniest part of this rant: I had never seen the show on TV. I never heard of The Dresden Files until my local Movie retailer started renting it!! The show was only available in legal US markets & on Canadian Grey Market Satellite viewers.
Another chance to add to the viewer base, yet typical Big Business prevails; not much creativity and very little style. Network executives appear to ONLY consider the quick profits! For the Sci-Fi network, ‘TDF’ is exactly as with our own CBC is to the hit series ‘Intelligence’. A hit because viewers will watch it. CBC has an awesome show, but couldn’t be bothered to advertise it or promote it. It thrives despite an apparent lackluster effort to market or promote. At least it airs in sequence, but that’s about it.
The Dresden Files deserved better, the fans deserved so much more!