Netflix Cancels Arthurian Fantasy Drama 'Cursed' After a Single Season
Sad news for those of us that love all things Arthuriana, Netflix has quietly canceled its female-led King Arthur retelling Cursed after just a single season.
Adapted from an illustrated novel by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller, the lavish fantasy series put a new spin on the story of Nimue, the legendary young woman destined to become the Lady of the Lake. The series saw her team up with a young Arthur on a search for the famed wizard Merlin, after being charged with delivering him an important ancient sword. (You can guess which one it was.) Along the way new (and very different) versions of other famous faces from Arthurian legend were introduced, including Percival, Lancelot, and Guinevere.
Though no official announcement regarding the series' fate was made by the streamer, Deadline reports that its cast has been officially released to pursue other opportunities. (This is basically the polite industry way of saying it's over without actually saying it's over.)
Cursed featured former 13 Reasons Why star Katherine Langford as Nimue, alongside Devon Terrell as Arthur, Gustaf Skarsgard as Merlin, Daniel Sharman as Lancelot, Sebastian Armesto as King Uther, Lily Newmark as Pym, Peter Mullan as Father Carden, Shalom Brune-Franklin as Morgana, Bella Dayne as Red Spear and Matt Stokoe as Gawain.
The series premiered in July 2020 to mixed critical reviews but enthusiastic fan response, regularly ranking in the streamer's most-watched rankings in the days and weeks following its release. However, despite its high production values and a fantastic lead turn from Langford as the fierce Nimue, Cursed never really caught fire the way that Netflix clearly hoped it would. Like every network in this industry, the streamer is constantly on the lookout for the next Game of Thrones and clearly thought this Arthurian retelling might fit that bill.
Its cancellation is an especial shame because Cursed ended on multiple cliffhangers, including Nimue's near-death injury, Merlin reclaiming his powers, and the revelation of Lancelot's true identity. Here's hoping that Wheeler and Miller at least write a sequel to the book.
Did you watch Cursed? Do you think it should have been saved? Let's discuss in the comments.
