Here's the reason the original UK version of Utopia was cancelled, and why there's still a slim chance of a future return. 2020 has been a strange year, and Amazon Prime's Utopia series feels like a timely piece of subversive television. Starring Rainn Wilson, Sasha Lane, Dan Byrd, John Cusack, Cory Michael Smith and a host of other talented names, Utopia follows a group of fans obsessed with a cult comic book known as "Utopia," which allegedly predicts real-world events and provides the key to a global conspiracy. These avid comic geeks soon find there's even more to Utopia than the rumors suggested, and uncover a a world of deadly viruses, shady organizations and creepy assassins lurking around every corner.
There's considerable buzz and a big marketing push behind Amazon's Utopia remake, but the situation was quite different for the original UK series that inspired it. Created by Dennis Kelly, Utopia aired in 2013 with a premise virtually identical to the remake. Utopia was praised for its intelligent thriller-style plot and stunning cinematic visuals, but it was also searingly brutal and unflinchingly violent, earning a few complaints from disgruntled viewers and concerned members of society. A second series aired in 2014 to further critical acclaim, and ended on an almighty cliffhanger.
Unfortunately, fans eagerly anticipating Utopia season 3 were left bitterly disappointed when Channel 4 announced that Utopia had not been renewed for another run. In late 2014, the broadcaster wrote that ending Utopia was "a necessary part of being able to commission new drama." In other words, Utopia didn't attract large enough viewing figures to warrant its place on Channel 4's 2015 schedule. Indeed, despite rave reviews and a loyal, passionate following, Utopia season 2's viewership dipped consistently below the 1 million mark, with the winding story, uncomfortable themes and unique style perhaps not suited to retaining casual viewers. Dennis Kelly has since speculated that releasing in summer didn't help Utopia's chances, while its director suggested that the London-heavy setting might've played a part in deterring a wider audience.
Utopia fans were understandably frustrated by this decision. Not only was the overarching plot of Utopia left on a knife edge, but the fates of the main cast remained in limbo. A brand new villain emerged, a redemption arc was teased for an old adversary, and the main cast were last seen being captured by the bad guys. The Utopia season 2 finale was a fantastic set-up for the future, but by absolutely no means did Utopia's ending provide resolution. In the years since, fans have constantly campaigned for Channel 4 to commission a third season, or to at least consider a one-off special that tied up the multitude of loose plot threats, but to no avail. There have also been calls for a streaming service to swoop in and save the day, and while Amazon did indeed answer that call, they were more interested in a remake than a continuation.
Fortunately, all hope is not lost. Dennis Kelly has spoken openly about his disappointment in Utopia's cancellation and has confirmed that ideas for Utopia season 3 were in motion, although the playwright has stopped short of revealing season 3's storyline. In an interview with The Independent, Kelly also claimed that he pitched a one-off special episode that would complete the Utopia story, but was turned down. Even in 2020, the desire to finish Utopia hasn't evaporated completely. Speaking recently with DenofGeek, Kelly admitted that finishing Utopia so long after its cancellation would be a challenge, but assured fans that the door wasn't closed, at least on his end. If anything will spark interest in Utopia season 3, it's a big-budget American remake on Amazon Prime, and should the new series perform well, more fans will discover the UK version. The temptation to revive the original could then prove too strong to resist.