Lab Rats: Elite Force never got a season 2. The Disney XD series aired a single season in 2016, but hasn’t been heard from since. Fans want to know why the show never returned. Lab Rats: Elite Force was a spinoff of Lab Rats and Mighty Med. Running from 2012-2016, the original Lab Rats, which aired for four seasons, followed the adventures of a group of superpowered teens living in a fictional California town.
Mighty Med lasted for two seasons, beginning in 2013. It centered on two comic book store employees who wound up working at the titular superhero hospital. Lab Rats: Elite Force was dreamed up by Lab Rats creators Chris Peterson and Bryan Moore. The heroes from both shows formed a team after Mighty Med Hospital was destroyed by supervillains. Returning stars included William Brent and Kelli Berglund from Lab Rats, Bradley Steven Perry of Disney's also-canceled Good Luck Charlie, and Paris Berelc and Jake Short from Mighty Med.
There were plenty of plot threads left dangling after Lab Rats: Elite Force season 1. Chase’s new girlfriend, Reese, turned out to be the daughter of the team’s enemy, and Douglas wound up badly injured. Plus, Chase declared war on Rodissius and his shapeshifting children. They attacked the city in retaliation after former superhero Rodissius had lost his powers. Basically, the series was canceled right as our heroes were gearing up for a major battle with the Big Bad. This makes the question of why Disney canceled Lab Rats: Elite Force season 2 all the bigger.
Why Lab Rats: Elite Force Was Canceled
Despite season 1 ending on a massive cliffhanger, Lab Rats: Elite Force season 2 never got greenlit by Disney. Disney never gave a clear reason, but it was likely due to low ratings. Unlike similar Disney shows like K.C. Undercover featuring Euphoria star Zendaya, the average viewership for Lab Rats: Elite Force season 1 was only a paltry .49 million. While Disney Channel's live-action series don't usually stack up anywhere near adult network shows, Lab Rats: Elite Force still fell short of the benchmark set by some of its contemporaries like Austin & Ally, with an average rating of closer to 3 million. While there may not have been all that many people watching Lab Rats: Elite Force, however, the show nevertheless retains a loyal fanbase. Multiple petitions are posted on change.org asking Disney to make Lab Rats: Elite Force season 2.
Can Lab Rats: Elite Force Season 2 Happen?
Despite the desires of the show's fanbase, it's unlikely that Lab Rats: Elite Force season 2 will ever happen. As with most former stars of Disney Channel original series, the cast of Lab Rats: Elite Force have moved on from the kid- and teen-oriented channel. Though none have gone on to have especially impressive careers, it's still hard to imagine the five main characters returning to Disney as adults to step back into spandex. Unfortunately, Lab Rats: Elite Force's cancellation seems to be permanent.
Lab Rats: Elite Force may not have been given the opportunity to unfold its entire story, but unfortunately, that’s a common occurrence with TV shows. Many great Disney shows ended before their time, and sometimes neither a passionate fanbase or critical acclaim can save a series if not enough people are watching. There may be multiple petitions which aim to get Disney to give the show a season 2, but it seems unlikely to sway the company, considering Lab Rats: Elite Force has been off the air for six years.