Wynonna Earp showrunner Emily Andras is hopeful about the show finding a new home for season 5. The supernatural Western series premiered in 2016 and follows the title character, a great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp. She holds the power of her ancestor's Peacemaker handgun, which plays a key role in the show. Wynonna Earp also explores Wynonna's relationships with her daughter's father, Doc Holliday, and her half-sister, Waverly. Waverly's romance with her fiancée Nicole Haught plays a role as well and has helped make Wynonna Earp an important show for LGBTQ representation.
As of March 2021, the show is airing the second part of season 4, consisting of the last six episodes. Unfortunately, they will also be Wynonna Earp's last, at least for now. Though the series has a passionate following, it's struggled in the ratings throughout its run. This led Syfy to announce Wynonna Earp would end with season 4, with the final episode airing April 9. However, it now sounds like hope remains for a season 5 of the show to air elsewhere.
Appearing on THR's TV's Top 5 podcast, Andras was asked about the possibility of season 5 landing somewhere, specifically the newly rebranded Paramount+. Andras said:
We are in meetings all the time and I am constantly getting an updated list from the producers ranking our targets of opportunity. I can't say who has said yes and who has said no. I can say that possibly someone you just mentioned is definitely in the mix. I would also say that in a weird way, while it may look more dire to the public, I think that season five is almost easier than season four because [Canadian distributor] Space stepped up in season four financially. We have an international distributor, Cineflix, that has sold out all over the world again. Netflix is still in as far as second window. All we need is a U.S. broadcaster, which is not as much moving around the chess pieces as it even was in season four. All the big people are in play, from IMDbTV to Paramount+, Hulu. Name a streamer, they have gotten a call from us.
Considering Wynonna Earp's cancellation and previous struggle to remain on the air, Andras' hope regarding the show's future comes as a pleasant surprise. Her comment about season 5 almost being easier to do than season 4 bodes well since season 4 eventually came to fruition. Paramount+ seems like an especially logical choice as the streaming service looks to entice new subscribers. As Andras notes elsewhere in the interview, an existing property like Wynonna Earp comes with a built-in audience, which could prove to be an asset, especially for a new platform trying to make its mark in a crowded field.
Show being saved from cancellation used to be a relative rarity, but that's not the case anymore. In the last few years, series like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and One Day at a Time have been picked up by NBC and Pop TV, respectively, after viewer outcry following their cancellations. It's worth noting these renewals typically don't lead to several more seasons of a show; One Day at a Time was cancelled again after one season on Pop, while Brooklyn Nine-Nine will have aired three seasons on NBC when it concludes next season. However, even one more season will give Wynonna Earp viewers more of a chance to say goodbye, while also allowing the writers to craft a more protracted and satisfying farewell. Hopefully, Andras' hope isn't in vain and a season 5 does end up happening.
Source: THR