Y: The Last Man showrunner Eliza Clark shares on Twitter that the series won't be picked up by another network following its cancelation by FX on Hulu. Following its first season, Y: The Last Man was abruptly canceled by the network due to budgetary concerns, declining to extend the actors' contracts after having already extended them due to COVID-19 related shutdowns. Changes in showrunner and cast during the elongated production cycle also contributed to the high cost of the first season.
Based on the comic series of the same name, Y: The Last Man follows the world after a cataclysmic event that kills every mammal with a Y-chromosome on the planet, except for character Yorick Brown, the last cisgender male on the planet. Meanwhile, Yorick's mother, the acting President of the United States must contend with the new world order in an effort to restore society. Clark had previously discussed plot points for Y: The Last Man season 2, including the introduction of astronauts with Y-chromosomes that were unaffected by the event.
In a Twitter thread, Clark announced that her efforts to move the show to a new network have failed, the reason being the monumental effort and money needed to move a series. She goes on to thank the efforts of the cast and crew that made the show, and how the abrupt cancelation has been difficult to deal with. She concludes by saying it's time for her to write her next project, but Y: The Last Man will always be the one that got away. Read the thread below:
Upon its release, Y: The Last Man received positive notices from critics, with many citing the performances and unique premise. However, despite good reviews and ratings, the troubled production history of the series is what ultimately led to its cancelation, with development starting way back in 2015. That, and the high budget of the series due to its dystopian setting all contributed to the show's end and inability to be picked up by another network.
With so many post-apocalyptic shows on tv, it's not surprising that some will slip through the cracks. Y: The Last Man was able to stand out due to its unique take on the genre through the lens of gender, as well as having a mostly female cast and crew. Even though Y: The Last Man was canceled before it could even find an audience, the effort of its creators will not be forgotten, and will hopefully encourage networks to see the value of shows that fly the same flag.
Source: Eliza Clark