What happened with Dark Matter? Recently, co-creator Joseph Mallozzi explained why Syfy cancelled the TV show after three seasons.
The sci-fi drama follows the crew of a derelict spaceship who awake with no memory of who they are or how they got on board. Still, they must work together to survive a threatening voyage charged with vengeance, betrayal, and plenty of secrets. The cast includes Marc Bendavid, Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr, Jodelle Ferland, Roger Cross, and Zoie Palmer.
Recently, Mallozzi addressed Dark Matter‘s cancellation on Reddit, saying Syfy‘s LA division did not support the series from the beginning. Read the entire post below:
It irritates me too. Especially because I had a five season plan going in complete with character and story arcs (which is why we were always able to set-up and pay off so much as the show went along). But, since you asked, this is what went down…
When we were first pitching the show, the pilot script went to Syfy’s Acquisition division in New York. They picked up the show. But as it turns out, the script had also been sent to Syfy’s Originals division in L.A. – who hated it and passed. And when they found out that the Acquisitions department in NY had picked up a project they had passed on, I heard they were decidedly Unhappy.
Then the show premiered and outperformed most of their originals. Which, from what I heard, really didn’t sit well with Syfy L.A.
Fast-forward three years later and our point person in New York left to go to Netflix. As a result, we didn’t have a champion in our corner anymore. Even though we were the network’s third-most watched show, I heard that not one executive stepped up for us. And, well, Syfy L.A. were never really fans – so we were cancelled. Without so much as a press release or a thank you. We went back at them and asked for the opportunity to offer fans a conclusion, even simply in the form of a two hour movie. They never even answered the email.”
What do you think? Are you a fan of Dark Matter? Would you have watched a fourth season?
hell yes!!
This explains why most of my friends and I, loyal consumers WITH MONEY TO SPEND, funnel our attention (funds) elsewhere. SyFy demonstrated a while ago they were only interested in the below 30 demographic with their programming. As a soon to be 45 y.o. single male this show resonated with me and my friends of both genders around my age. Network programmers don’t care about our demographic and the consistency of which quality shows (ratings) were abruptly cancelled allowed Netflix and the coming Disney stream to hopefully put SyFy LA out of business. Karma=poor business decisions.
Story line from Dark matter just grew in depth. As did character development. The plots are original, and drew me in. As a major sci fi fan. it’s a shame a quality show like this just got un plugged. It will be back. Us fans are hungry for more.
Dark Matter just like any show that appeals to adult viewers it gets cancelled by the NBC Universal executives. This is why I avoid MSWN (Middle School Wrestling Network) like the plague…uhhh….I mean SYFY channel. The people in charge at SYFY still have the mindset that science fiction only appeals to little boys in elementary school. Until those people are replaced that’s the only type of programming that will come out SYFY.
I loved this series. After canceling Dark Matter I star to like Killjoys. And now, they cancelled it too 🙁
I agree with Roger
I love the show and I was sad to hear it was cancelled. I hope another network will pick it up and revive the series.
What the hell is the matter with you people give this show it’s do…
My husband and I would absolutely have watched a fourth season. We were engaged with the characters and involved in the plot. The characters had depth and were growing. We enjoyed watching their development and adventures. We were quite disappointed when the series ended, especially so abruptly.
I think the people who think everyone should think like they do should not be let out without a keeper.
I don’t know how the SyFy exec’s can justify canceling shows without closure for fans.
Not cool. Maybe it’s time for a science fiction channel to spawn from the ashes and give SyFy channel a run for their money and fresh ideas and closure for certain shows as long as the actors are still available
Best sci-fi done in along time. Much better then tons of the crap they play now.
Dark Matter was one my favorite shows. syFy never gives good shows enough time to capture an audience . I guess they will go back to the stupid wrestling
I wish they would have finished it
The bran dead people in charge of putting shows on TV don’t care if any one watches or not, they are all about trying to control how people think about religion, politics, or rasing your children.
You hit the point
Agree
comment from somewhere else: “Also, stop looking at those Nielsen ratings, there are different, more complicated ratings stuff they are looking for channels like this. Those figures are very much NOT made public.”