the best sci-fi TV shows of all time — yet, it ended after only six seasons. Still, many fans remain hopeful that a seventh season is coming (even three years after Amazon Prime Video released The Expanse's series finale). In a world where reboots and revivals are becoming more common than original TV shows, The Expanse's return is undoubtedly possible, given its popularity and quality. However, sometimes things just don't work out, meaning season 6 could truly be the end.
The Expanse is based on James S. A. Corey's (a pen name used by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) book series of the same name, set hundreds of years in the future, where humans have colonized the solar system.
The Expanse premiered in December 2015 on the Syfy network, where it ran for three seasons. Then, in 2019, Amazon Prime Video picked up the sci-fi series, and ultimately released three more seasons. Unfortunately, the streaming service canceled The Expanse, meaning season 6 would be its last. The good news is that the door is open for more episodes. The only question that remains is if Amazon Prime Video (or another streaming platform or network) will decide to bring The Expanse back for season 7.
The Expanse Ended After Season 6, But There Were Hints The Show Could Continue
Season 7 Seemed Within Reach
Although Amazon Prime Video announced The Expanse season 6 as the show's last season, the producers were hopeful it would continue. Following news of the cancelation, showrunner Naren Shankar talked with Entertainment Weekly about the possibility of more seasons. He revealed:
"[Alcon] control the property, but what I will say is that there's definitely more to tell, and I'm sure Ty [Franck] and Daniel [Abraham] would say exactly the same thing. But yeah, that's probably about as much as I can say at this point."
Meanwhile, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (the authors of the novels and writers/executive producers of the TV series) spoke with Polygon in 2020. They explained how they viewed The Expanse season 6 as a "pause" rather than an ending. Franck said:
"We have what we think is a very natural pause point for the story after season 6. It'll feel like a satisfying end to the story we've been building over the first five seasons. I think one of the things that is sort of an outmoded idea is the idea of being canceled ... Alcon [Television Group] — our studio — is very committed to the IP. They have lots of plans. We'll see what happens after that. But, we will have a satisfying story to the TV arc in the sixth season."
Based on Franck's comments, he and Abraham were looking forward to continuing The Expanse's story after season 6. They wanted to ensure that season 6 would have a satisfying ending, closing out a six-season arc. The show's writers and producers still allowed room for the possibility of more, though. The finale is left open-ended in many regards, suggesting fans haven't seen the last of The Expanse cast yet.
The Expanse Season 6 Cast |
Role |
|---|---|
Steven Strait |
James Holden |
Dominique Tipper |
Naomi Nagata |
Wes Chatham |
Amos Burton |
Shohreh Aghdashloo |
Chrisjen Avasarala |
Frankie Adams |
Bobbie Draper |
Cara Gee |
Camina Drummer |
Keon Alexander |
Marco Inaros |
Jasai Chase Owens |
Filip Inaros |
Nadine Nicole |
Clarissa Mao |
By the end of The Expanse season 6 finale, Cara and Xan's fates are unknown. The two siblings escaped into the wilderness to evade the Laconian authorities, but it's unclear what happened to them afterward. Other incomplete stories include iral Winston Duarte and the protomolecule and what happens to Filip Inaros and Clarissa "Peaches" Mao after season 6. The books can solve some of these mysteries. However, interweaving these open-ended character arcs into the supposed series finale of The Expanse leads one to believe that the producers wanted to make more episodes.
The Expanse's Rights Situation Makes A Continuation Complicated, But Still Possible
Alcon Entertainment Leases The Expanse
Since The Expanse is leased by Alcon Entertainment, they decide whether season 7 will happen. Alcon finances the sci-fi series, meaning they have a lot of control over its future (as long as a streaming service or network wants to produce it). Amazon Prime Video has distribution rights, though, which will eventually expire. The assumption is that Alcon will assume these rights once they expire, and it appears Alcon's deal with Amazon might be coming to an end in 2025.
The Expanse season 6 adapted the sixth book in Corey's series, Babylon's Ashes, but three novels remain after it — Persepolis Rising, Tiamat's Wrath, and Leviathan Falls.
Per first three seasons of The Expanse, which were originally released on the Syfy network, were set to leave Amazon Prime Video in February 2025. However, that doesn't seem to be the case as all the episodes remain in Amazon's library. Moving forward, it's unclear when Amazon's lease on The Expanse expires. Perhaps the first three seasons allegedly leaving the streaming service was a mistake, or Amazon's time could be running out.
The Expanse's Story Has Continued In Other Forms (But Book 7 Still Hasn't Been Adapted)
Comic Books & Games Have Been Released
In the years since The Expanse ended, Alcon Entertainment has kept the IP's legacy alive via comic books and games. A 12-issue comic book series, The Expanse: Dragon Tooth, was first published in April 2023, and its last issue was released in May 2024. Andy Diggle wrote The Expanse: Dragon Tooth, while Rubine drew the first five issues and sco Pisa drew the rest. The comics pick up after the show's finale but also take place before the events of James S. A. Corey's seventh The Expanse novel, Persepolis Rising. Meanwhile, the franchise also includes a board game and a tabletop role-playing game.
The Expanse’s Best Episodes Confirm 1 Sad Truth About The 6-Season Sci-Fi Show
The Expanse has some truly amazing episodes, but unfortunately, those best episodes confirm one difficult truth about the sci-fi series.
The Expanse season 6 adapted the sixth book in Corey's series, Babylon's Ashes, but three novels remain after it — Persepolis Rising, Tiamat's Wrath, and Leviathan Falls. So, the sci-fi TV show could theoretically return and produce three more seasons. The universe's story is not over yet, after all. Unfortunately, a revival of The Expanse isn't that simple, mostly thanks to distribution rights and financial reasons. Fans shouldn't be discouraged, though, as one exciting update concerning the minds behind the TV show implies we are closer than ever to a seventh season of The Expanse.
Prime Video Is Making Another Series Based On A Book By The Expanse's Authors
The Captive's War Is Coming
According to Variety, Amazon MGM Studios has agreed to adapt James S. A. Corey's planned book trilogy, The Captive's War, into a TV show. The first novel, The Mercy of Gods, was published in August 2024, and two more are reportedly on the way. Their publication dates and titles are unknown, as of the writing of this article. Nevertheless, the TV series will serve as one big The Expanse reunion.
The Captive War's description reads, "Set in a distant future of galactic empires and alien civilizations, and inspired by the biblical Book of Daniel, The Captive's War follows a group of prisoners who rise from the ashes of catastrophe to destroy their conqueror's society from within. It is an epic tale about the transformative power of individuality in a totalitarian world."
Naren Shankar (The Expanse's showrunner) will executive produce The Captive's War and serve as its showrunner. Meanwhile, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck will write, and Breck Eisner, who directed numerous The Expanse, is returning to direct the sci-fi series. Given the number of names associated with The Expanse tied to The Captive's War, a seventh season seems imminent. They evidently have a great relationship with Amazon and have established trust. So, perhaps it might be a little bit longer until The Expanse season 7 is possible, but hope will always remain.
The Expanse
- Release Date
- 2015 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- SyFy
- Showrunner
- Naren Shankar, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Cast
Dominique Tipper
WHERE TO WATCH
- Franchise(s)
- The Expanse
- Seasons
- 6
Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Polygon, Forbes, Variety
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