Summary
Amazon’s decision to cancelAmerican Rustdespite its 78% RT rating is doubly brutal because of one crucial detail. This series stood out among crime dramas because it took place in Pennsylvania, which is in the heart of the Rust Belt, and thus offered a rare glimpse into small-town life in this area of the United States. This hook, along with a strong cast led by Jeff Daniels, set the series up for success that did not come, andAmerican Rust’s season 2 endingincluded cliffhangers that will no longer be able to be resolved.
The first season ofAmerican Rustmade significant changes to the Philipp Meyer novel, but this did not appear to affect its ratings enough to prevent Amazon from renewing it for a second season. However, season 2 involved an all-new story that was not related to the book and instead hinted at a larger conspiracy within the small town.Amazon’s decision not to renewAmerican Rustfor a third season occurred four months after season 2 premieredon Prime Video, suggesting that viewership numbers were not strong enough to justify bringing it back again.
American Rust Cast & Character Guide
Showtime’s American Rust cast is filled with talented actors from diverse backgrounds, including from Mulholland Drive, Beautiful Boy, and Birdman.
American Rust Has Now Been Canceled Twice In The Space Of Two Years
Amazon Picked It Up After Showtime Canceled It
American Rusthad several second chancesbefore its Amazon cancelation. The series was originally given the green light by USA Network in 2017, but USA decided not to go ahead with it. It was then picked up for one season by Showtime before being canceled again, at which point Amazon picked it up for two seasons. These previous cancelations make it seem like the series is invincible, but Amazon’s decision is most likely the final blow since it’s been saved from cancelation before without finding greater success.
These previous cancelations and resurrections make Amazon’s decision even more brutal. Amazon’s initial decision offered a rare reprieve for a canceled show, but a mere two seasons later,American Rustis in the same position it was before its initial cancelation: having more stories to tell but no platform to tell them on. To add insult to injury,audiences generally had positive feelings about the show, giving it a 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, even though professional reviewers were mostly critical.
Why Did Amazon Prime Cancel American Rust After Season 2?
While those who watchedAmerican Rustseason 2 seemed to generally give it high marks, there simply wasn’t enough buzz to justify a third season. It is possible that the trailer simply didn’t attract enough of an audience, and that even those who were interested in it did not watch it right away. The fact that American Rust went from one platform to another between seasons may also have played a role in its lack of success.American Rustcurrently has a 7.3/10 score on IMDb from 12,000 reviews, with season 2’s finale being the show’s highest-rated episode at 8.2/10.
It is frustrating when a show that was just saved is canceled again, though this is not the first time it has happened.
American Rust’s 28% critic score onRotten Tomatoesmeans that it was not a success with critics either. Although ratings or streaming numbers are essentially what defines the future of a show, series that struggled to find an audience but were still well-received by critics usually have a higher chance of continuing for more seasons. Without either enough success in streaming or critical acclaim,American Rustfound itself in a difficult position. It is frustrating when a show that was just saved is canceled again, though this is not the first time it has happened.
American Rust Probably Won’t Be Saved For Season 3
After Two Cancelations, The Series Has Little Chance Of Success
American Rustseason 3’s cancelation newsis probably the end of the line for the crime drama. Streaming services sometimes pick up shows that have been canceled by broadcast networks, but it’s rare for one streaming service to pick up something that has been canceled by another. This is especially true inAmerican Rust’s case, considering that it had already been canceled by broadcast television before Amazon picked it up. Thus,other streamers will likely see the series as a huge risk that isn’t likely to pay off.
There are currently no news or rumors about another network picking upAmerican Rust.
At least twoAmerican Rustcast members have already moved on to other projects.Jeff Bridges will star inMan In Fullon Netflix, while Maura Tierney has been tapped to replace Camryn Manheim onLaw & Order. These new commitments make it even less likely thatAmerican Rustwill be granted another reprieve, as it would not be able to include these cast members. Jeff Bridges' absence would make it especially hard to re-sell this series, as his star power is a selling point that is hard to replicate.
American Rust
Cast
Set in a small Rust Belt town in Pennsylvania, “American Rust” is a gritty drama series that delves into the lives of the town’s inhabitants as they grapple with poverty, drug addiction, and the remnants of the American dream. Jeff Daniels stars as the town’s compromised chief of police, who finds himself torn between his duty and his loyalty to those he loves when a murder case emerges, threatening to unveil the community’s dark secrets.
