Warner Bros TV is reportedly nearing a deal to renew Manifest on Netflix for season 4. The mystery-drama series was cancelled by its original home network, NBC, after season 3 saw a significant decline in ratings. Netflix had previously passed on the opportunity to revive Manifest earlier in the year, after conversations with Warner Bros failed to secure a deal with the streaming service.
Manifest is a supernatural drama starring Josh Dallas, Melissa Roxburgh, J.R. Ramirez, Luna Blaise, Jack Messina, Parveen Kaur, and Matt Long. It follows the passengers and crew of Montego Air Flight 828, who return from a seemingly normal flight from Jamaica to New York only to discover that five years have passed and everyone on board had been presumed dead. The finale of Manifest season 3 left a swathe of unanswered questions and cliffhangers, and so NBC's cancellation of the show hit fans hard. A social media campaign quickly appeared, and loyal viewers (including iconic horror author Stephen King) began tweeting the hashtag #SaveManifest. After failing to find a new home for the planned six-season show, in July, creator Jeff Rake announced he was considering making a two-hour movie to conclude Manifest properly. But now it seems there is hope for season 4 yet.
According to Deadline, Warner Bros TV is in the final stages of negotiations with Netflix about an order for Manifest season 4. Warner Bros has apparently even reached out to the cast and writers about a potential return. While Rake had previously entered discussions with NBCUniversal about renewing the show on NBC or Peacock after the network had a sudden change of heart, it appears that Netflix will be the platform of choice for Manifest's future.
Despite the hard road that has led to this stage, a deal with Netflix certainly makes sense for Manifest. Since seasons 1 and 2 of the show were added to the streaming service in June, they have proved a huge hit. The series almost beat the record for the longest time spent at number one on Netflix's daily top 10 list and held the top position on the Nielsen streaming ratings chart for weeks. Manifest's success on Netflix is what ultimately brought both the streaming service and NBC back to the table for a revival discussion.
While no official deal has been struck yet, given the massive viewership of the show's initial seasons on its platform, it seems unlikely that Netflix will pass up an opportunity like Manifest again. The show has proven itself to be an example of how a loyal fan base can sometimes be a strong enough force to bend a major network. Rake seems more than ready to jump into the show's next season, and there will be plenty of eager people waiting for it when he does.
Source: Deadline