A possible Lucifer season 6 at Netflix is in trouble due to a new contract dispute between series star Tom Ellis and the studio. The series, which premiered in 2015 on FOX, was rescued by the streaming platform after its cancellation following season 3. After performing well on the service, Netflix renewed Lucifer for season 5, which was set to be its final season. However, due to the show's growing popularity, the streaming service has been open to renewing the show for a possible season 6.
Lucifer is based on a DC comic book character created by Neil Gaiman. The character made his debut in The Sandman comics in 1989 before getting his own spinoff series written by Mike Carey. The show follows Lucifer Morningstar, who has decided to vacate his position as the ruler of Hell, and live a life on Earth in order to better understand humanity. He settles in Los Angeles where he crosses paths with a police detective, sparking a working relationship and friendship where the two solve murders all across the city. The series was in the middle of production on its upcoming fifth season, until Lucifer had to shut down due to coronavirus concerns.
Now, TVLine is reporting information from multiple sources that there are re-negotiations taking place between Ellis and Warner Bros. Television for a possible Lucifer season 6. Unfortunately, it appears negotiations aren't going as smoothly as the studio hoped. Ellis has reportedly rejected the studio's latest offer, though he had previously inked a contract extension allowing him to continue in the role for another season. Apparently, Warner Bros. has gone back multiple times in attempts to "sweeten the pot" for the actor with no luck in coming to an agreement. The series' supporting cast have all expressed their desire to return for another season, their contract options expected to be picked up pending Ellis' deal.
Lucifer has not only become an increasingly popular hit for Netflix, but the character has even expanded his horizons. This past December, during the Arrowverse's massive Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover event, John Constantine crossed paths with Lucifer in order gain some help in completing a magical ritual. Their interaction was not only a welcome surprise for fans, it confirmed Lucifer to be Arrowverse canon. The show's upcoming season 5 was originally set to have 10 episodes, but Netflix added an additional six, bringing the total to 16. It's also been confirmed that Dennis Haysbert will be joining the cast as God in the new season.
The series was a pleasant surprise when it premiered in 2015, featuring a wonderfully charismatic central performance from Ellis, in addition to mythology that kept the show fresh when it began to feel too much like a police procedural. The performances and writing have remained sharp and the news of a possible season 6 is great to hear. However, hearing that a new season may not move forward due to Ellis' contract negotiations is disappointing to say the least. Fortunately, it's easy to remain optimistic about negotiations going through due to the fact Ellis knows the fans are certainly to thank for the series' new life on Netflix. In the meantime, fans can hope for the best as they eagerly await the arrival of Lucifer season 5 on Netflix.
Source: TVLine