“Manifest” fans can’t wait for season five, but it might take a little longer to come out. Netflix came to the rescue and picked up the show for one last season after NBC canceled it following its third season. This final chapter will tie up all the loose ends. Stars like Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, Parveen Kaur, J.R. Ramirez, Athena Karkanis, and Luna Blaise bring the characters to life in Jeff Rake’s show, which was originally planned for six seasons.
The Renewal Plot
After NBC canceled popular series Manifest, Netflix quickly signed on as its distributor and quickly acquired it for their own streaming platform. Rumors are flying that Manifest will return for another season at Netflix.
The supernatural mystery box drama premiered on NBC in 2018 and follows the passengers of Flight 828 who appear five and a half years after having been presumed dead. Starring Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, Athena Karkanis, Jack Messina and more; its third season ended in a shocking cliffhanger and saw one major character’s demise.
Even though this show had high viewer numbers, ratings and production costs suffered significantly due to low ratings and lockdowns caused by Covid pandemic; further postponing its fourth season release date.
Rake had intended for the show to run for six seasons, but its cancellation after three left fans with unanswered questions about what had happened aboard Montego Air Flight 828. Netflix decided to pick up Rake so fans can get all the answers they deserved from Rake Manifest Season 4 Part 2, set to debut June 2, which features two parts with 10 episodes each.
The Renewal Status
Manifest was an instantaneous success upon its debut on NBC in 2018, yet never reached the level of success it could have. After its third season ended with an intense cliffhanger, however, network officials decided not to renew it; fans responded angrily by starting an #SaveManifest campaign online and creator Jeff Rake himself reaching out via Twitter looking for new homes for it.
Netflix gave the show another chance to flourish by ordering two 20-episode seasons; Season 4 Part 1 premiered November 2022 while Part 2 will premiere June 2 of 2023.
Regarding whether there will be a fifth season, it seems unlikely. Television ratings tend to dictate cancellation decisions and Manifest’s ratings have seen steady decrease since season three began. Production costs also play an integral part in ordering another season; and it could even be that writers have condensed all their planned plotlines into this final batch of episodes to ensure an end point for their storyline.
Josh Dallas of Manifest credits fans for giving them another chance. According to him, their dedication is what convinced Netflix to produce an expansive final season that will wrap up an intriguing mystery.
The Renewal Date
At its launch on NBC, Manifest was anticipated as another LOST successor; indeed it found its own niche within viewers’ hearts; however NBC decided to cancel after three seasons due to viewership decline.
Good news is that Netflix was able to save Manifest, as it returned for its fourth season in November 2022 with part two airing June 2023; but there have been rumors of whether there will be another season of the show or not.
Jeff Rake did not want Netflix to save Manifest from cancellation, so they and its writers decided on their own terms that this was best way forward. A fifth season was never going to happen so they had to close off their story on their terms.
There’s always the possibility that Manifest may return on television in some capacity; however, full season of the show seems less likely as Netflix might not risk diminishing viewership numbers. While rumors about its sixth season abound, its likelihood is quite unlikely.
The Renewal Cast
Manifest was an instantaneous hit when it debuted on NBC in October 2021, yet was abruptly cancelled in June 2021 despite showrunner Jeff Rake’s plans to extend its six season run. Luckily for viewers, Netflix soon picked up and renewed it for another four season run!
NBC likely made their decision to cancel The Blacklist due to low ratings and production costs, as well as making room for Law & Order spinoff For the Defense and veteran The Blacklist on Thursdays 8pm time slots. By making this move, funds were released for the show while holes in its schedule opened up that may have helped renew renewal discussions with producers.
Fans may be heartbroken to see Manifest come to a close, but Netflix-produced fourth season offers fans one final hurrah. A super-sized finale allows passengers of flight 828 some closure. Ty Doran will also debut as adult Cal Stone and Jack Messina will make an appearance.
Melissa Roxburgh will return as Michaela Stone; Josh Dallas as Ben Stone; Parveen Kaur as Saanvi Bahl; J.R. Ramirez as Jared Vasquez; Luna Blaise as Olivia Stone; Matt Long as Zeke Landon and Holly Taylor as Angelina Meyer will all reprise their roles from season 3. Athena Karkanis will not reprise her role of Grace Stone but may make appearances via flashbacks.
| Season | Network | Cancellation Reason | Rescue by | Additional Seasons | Cast Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBC, Netflix | Low ratings, making room for new shows | Netflix | 4 (November 2022 – June 2023) | Adult Cal Stone introduced (Ty Doran), Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, Parveen Kaur, J.R. Ramirez, Luna Blaise, Matt Long, Holly Taylor | No Athena Karkanis as Grace Stone, possible flashbacks |
Conclusion
In a bittersweet turn of events, Manifest’s unexpected journey took a dramatic twist from NBC’s cancellation to a Netflix revival. As fans mourned the series’ end after three seasons, Netflix swooped in, granting a final four-season run, bringing closure to the captivating story of flight 828
