It’s one and done for Charlie Hunnam’s latest series. Apple TV+ has cancelled the Shantaram TV series after one season of 12 episodes. The de facto series finale was released today.
Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory David Roberts, the Shantaram TV series stars Hunnam, Shubham Saraf, Elektra Kilbey, Fayssal Bazzi, Luke Pasqualino, Antonia Desplat, Alyy Khan, Sujaya Dasgupta, Vincent Perez, David Field, Alexander Siddig, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, Elham Ehsas, Rachel Kamath, Matthew Joseph, and Shiv Palekar. The story follows an Australian fugitive named Lin Ford (Hunnam) who is looking to get lost in the vibrancy and chaos of Bombay in the 1980s. Alone in an unfamiliar city, Lin struggles to avoid the trouble he’s running from in this new place. After falling for an enigmatic and intriguing woman named Karla, Lin must choose between freedom or love and the complications that come with it.
The show’s expansive production proved challenging during the pandemic as filming was to take place across two continents. After two episodes were filmed, production had to be shut down in February 2020. Production didn’t resume until May 2021. Shantaram launched on October 14th with a trio of episodes and the remaining nine installments have been doled out one a week since then.
Hunnam has said that Shantaram was a sometimes grueling series to make, but that deep connection didn’t give him any insights into the show’s chances for survival. Here’s an excerpt from an EW interview that was given before the news of the cancellation was announced. The actor expresses frustration with how the fate of streaming series are decided.
What kinds of conversations have there been so far about a potential season 2 renewal?
I don’t know what conversations are going on about a second season. I don’t even know if there even are any conversations going on at this point about a second season. It’s a weird thing — streaming platforms work in a completely different way than traditional television networks, which is [by a] really very clear arithmetic: If a show is getting big numbers and can justify generating large ad revenue, then it’s pretty much a given that it’ll come back. I don’t quite know what the arithmetic within streaming platforms are to justify whether a show comes back. Nobody ever really knows what [the viewership] is because most of the streaming platforms are very reticent to publish exactly what the viewership is of shows.
So listen, your guess is as good as mine. My hope would be that they feel as though the show is good enough to justify another season. But honestly, I’ve got no f—ing idea. I am not privy to those conversations in any way, shape, or form.
Check out our list of more than 60 series that have also been cancelled this season.
What do you think? Have you kept up with the Shantaram series on Apple TV+? Are you disappointed that there won’t be a second season?
Read the book when it came out many years ago and loved it. Thinking at all times what a great film or series it would make. Was delighted when I learned Apple TV had produced it. Current 12 episodes were done so well with the casting of all the characters and the Bombay slums done with compelling precision. Last 2 episodes had us all on the edge of our seat right up to the last 3 minutes as the Australian detective got close to catching Lin. It should have ended allowing Karla and Lin to escape which would have allowed… Read more »
It just hurts to read 2nd season is canceled by Apple+ .. After a long time I watched such a great series.. wonderful directions..superb acting by all.. excellent dialogue delivery…Fav characters Lin Baba, Prabhu and Khader Khan.. I request all the viewers let us please start a petition.. Apple tv and The makers pls don’t disappoint your valuable Audiences.