Drew Barrymore's zombie comedy Santa Clarita Diet gets the axe at Netflix following its third season
It's the end for the critically-acclaimed streaming series.
Netflix announced it was canceling Drew Barrymore's zombie rom-com Santa Clarita Diet on Friday.
The move came following the release of the third season on March 29.
The end: Netflix announced it was canceling Drew Barrymore's zombie rom-com Santa Clarita Diet on Friday; still from Santa Clarita Diet
'The world had never known a 'zom-com' until Santa Clarita Diet, and we're indebted to creator Victor Fresco for bringing this idea to Netflix,' the streaming giant wrote in a statement.
'To their endless credit, the incredible Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant were totally game, with an uncanny knack for comedy that brought Sheila and Joel Hammond to vibrant life, even though one of them was undead.
Share this article
'Of all of the characters I’ve ever been, Sheila Hammond is one of my favorites,' said star and executive producer Drew Barrymore, 44. 'She and Joel were an amazing couple, who had shared goals. And I am lucky to have worked along side Tim Olyphant. It was an honor to get to do something so delightful. Sheila lives forever in me. And I am grateful to Victor Fresco, who created a world so unique.'
'I loved working on this show. I’m going to continue coming in and doing scenes. If they don’t want to film it, that’s up to them,' joked her co-star and fellow EP Olyphant.
The best: 'Of all of the characters I’ve ever been, Sheila Hammond is one of my favorites,' said star and executive producer Drew Barrymore, 44; pictured April 13 in Sydney, Australia
No notice: The series' cancellation came as a surprise, consider that it was produced in-house and featured big name stars; still from Santa Clarita Diet
The series' cancellation came as a surprise, considering its high-profile stars and it's positive coverage from critics.
Santa Clarita Diet was also an in-house production for Netflix, which would have cut down on its expenses producing it.
The streaming company rarely reduces viewership figures, so it's difficult to know how many eyeballs a show commands.
Netflix's shows tend to get more expensive after multiple seasons, as the stars and creators renegotiate their contracts for higher pay. The structure may give the network an incentive to cancel otherwise well-performing shows after only a few seasons.
Little explanation: The streaming company rarely reduces viewership figures, so it's difficult to know how many eyeballs a show commands; still from Santa Clarita Diet
'Like our audience, we were all-in on Sheila and Joel,' wrote showrunner Victor Fresco and executive producer Tracy Katsky. 'Their relationship, in the face of incredible adversity, was inspiring to write and to watch. Mostly, they were funny, which in a comedy is important.'
'Netflix took at chance on this odd show and for that we will always be grateful. They were supportive, ever positive, and appreciative of our work. Until about noon today.'
'Still, they were just one phone call away from being a perfect studio. Not bad. Everything ends. This was a thing. And so it ended. We’ll miss it but are proud of the work we did and will always appreciate the love and enthusiasm we felt from our audience. It if was up to them, Sheila and Joel would continue for another 10,000 years.'
The series starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as a married couple struggling to deal with her new status as an undead zombie; pictured April 13
The series stars Drew Barrymore, 44, and Timothy Olyphant, 50, as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a husband and wife real estate agent team.
Sheila is transformed into a zombie craving human flesh, but unlike a Night Of The Living Dead-style creature, she looks completely normal and (mostly) acts like her old self.
The couple and their children struggle to deal with her new needs while keeping their family together.
The dark comedy earned a 78 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season, which subsequent seasons scoring even higher.
Timothy can next be seen by prestige TV fans on the upcoming Deadwood movie, a continuation and conclusion of the critically-acclaimed HBO series.
Drew has decreased her acting appearances in recent years, concentrating on Santa Clarita Diet.
She'll be featured in the upcoming comedy film The Stand-In, which commenced filming earlier this year.
The dark comedy earned a 78 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season, which subsequent seasons scoring even higher; pictured April 10
