Netflix will not finish filming season 4 of GLOW and has opted to cancel the popular wrestling drama/comedy series. Inspired by real events, GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) became a fan favorite after a stellar first three seasons and earned numerous nominations and awards. Created by Liv Flavine and Carly Mensch, GLOW follows struggling actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie), who lands an audition for a syndicated wrestling circuit.
Riddled with glitter, spandex, and complicated wrestling moves, GLOW centers on Ruth, her former best friend Debbie Eagen (Betty Gilpin), and a group of Hollywood castaways under the guide of B-movie director Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron) as the women become passionate about joining the world of wrestling. Season 3 ended with a new opportunity for the wrestlers after Debbie Eagan joined forces with Bash Howard (Chris Lowell) and ensured GLOW a home after the show left Las Vegas. Of course, season 3 left fans wondering what would happen next when the members of GLOW parted ways. Last year, Netflix announced it would bring back GLOW for a fourth and final season, ensuring a fresh batch of wrestling matches. However, it appears the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling will not return.
Per Deadline, Netflix has canceled GLOW due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, GLOW was three weeks into filming season 4 when production halted due to the COVID outbreak. Filmed in Los Angeles, GLOW is an expensive series to produce, and the added COVID-related cost pushed the budget over the top for Netflix. Additionally, GLOW includes numerous scenes of physical contact, heavy breathing, and exertion, which would make the series more difficult to film amid pandemic concerns. Speaking on Netflix's renewal reversal, Flahive and Mensch released this statement:
COVID also apparently took down our show. Netflix has decided not to finish filming the final season of GLOW. We were handed the creative freedom to make a complicated comedy about women and tell their stories. And wrestle. And now that's gone. There's a lot of sh**ty things happening in the world that are much bigger than this right now. But it still sucks that we don't get to see these 15 women in a frame together again. We'll miss our cast of weirdo clowns and our heroic crew.
GLOW joins the growing roster of renewed shows that are canceled due to coronavirus. These include Stumptown, The Society, and I Am Not Okay With This. Reportedly, the series regulars of GLOW - who had completed the first episode of season 4- have been paid in full for the final season. Of course, Netflix’s announcement of canceling the final season of GLOW is difficult news for fans to digest since there was an expectation of 10 new episodes and an opportunity for the creators to craft a satisfying ending for the wrestlers.
Netflix canceling GLOW doesn’t have to mean the end of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. One of the reasons the series became a success for Netflix is because the premise of GLOW is about overcoming obstacles. In an era of reboots and revivals, Netflix could workshop to bring back GLOW later on down the line - even in the form of a feature film - to give fans a proper finale. Overall, GLOW had a good run, with the series touching on redemption, acceptance, and empowerment, and offered a closer look at the world of women’s wrestling.
Source: Deadline