NBC canceled The Hunting Party and Netflix won't save it
NBC quietly canceled crime drama The Hunting Party on June 1, 2026, after two seasons, and Universal Television shopped the series to other outlets—including Netflix—but cast options expired in early July without renewal. With Melissa Roxburgh and the ensemble released, no streamer picked up a third season and the show is officially over.
The Hunting Party was the last 2025–26 NBC scripted series awaiting a final verdict. NBC delayed the call until after its upfront presentation while weighing linear ratings against streaming performance on Peacock and Netflix. When the network pulled the plug, fans hoped a streamer rescue might follow. That window has now closed.
Key Takeaways
- NBC canceled The Hunting Party on June 1, 2026, following two seasons; the finale aired May 7.
- Universal Television shopped the JJ Bailey procedural to platforms including Netflix and Peacock, but no buyer emerged.
- Cast options expired in early July 2026 without extension, formally ending any revival campaign.
- Season 1 drew strong U.S. viewership on Netflix in February, yet linear ratings stayed soft in season two.
- Existing episodes remain on Peacock and Netflix, but a third season will not be produced.
Why Did NBC Cancel The Hunting Party After Two Seasons?
NBC executives took extra time before confirming the cancellation, making The Hunting Party the final 2025–26 broadcast holdout. Jeff Bader, NBCUniversal's president of program planning strategy, told reporters the series "really did not perform well enough on linear" to earn another year in the Thursday 10 p.m. slot behind Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
The network is replacing that hour with the flagship Law & Order next fall as part of a tightened 2026–27 schedule that also added four new scripted series. Fellow sophomore drama Brilliant Minds and freshman comedy Stumble were canceled alongside The Hunting Party.
Could Netflix Have Saved The Hunting Party?
On paper, Netflix looked like the most logical savior. The streamer already licenses earlier seasons of The Hunting Party in the U.S., and Deadline reported that a February debut of season one delivered a strong audience bump. Peacock, NBC's sibling service, also saw a halo effect from the Netflix exposure while hosting next-day episodes.
Universal Television launched an active shopping campaign after NBC's June 1 cancellation. Netflix licensing fees and international sales brought NBCUniversal additional revenue, but according to Deadline, neither Netflix nor Peacock—or any other outlet—committed to a pickup once the numbers were weighed against soft broadcast performance.
Is The Hunting Party Officially Over for Good?
Yes. Deadline confirmed that cast options expired without being extended by Universal Television, releasing Melissa Roxburgh, Nick Wechsler, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie, and Sara Garcia from their contracts. With the actors free to pursue other work, efforts to extend the show's life are finished.
Created by JJ Bailey, the procedural followed former FBI profiler Rebecca "Bex" Henderson and a team hunting the world's deadliest killers after they escaped a secret government prison called the Pit. Fan campaigns pushed for a revival, but the expired options mark a definitive endpoint for this cast and storyline.
Where Can Fans Still Watch The Hunting Party?
While production has ended, existing episodes have not been pulled from platforms. Peacock carries the full series, including next-day NBC episodes during the original run, and Netflix still hosts licensed U.S. seasons. MovieWeb notes that a season two Netflix rollout could attract new viewers, but that would not revive the canceled production.
For more updates on network cuts, streaming pickups, and revival efforts across television, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.