Jupiter’s Legacy is finally on Netflix, kickstarting the arrival of Millarworld on the streaming platform.
The eight-episode superhero series is based on a comic book series of the same name by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely.
It follows a group of superheroes under the leadership of Sheldon Sampson/The Utopian.
Jupiter’s Legacy arrived on Netflix in May with a mixed reception. Some people loved the incredible action fights but think that the show is “overstuffed and slow-moving.”
The first season ended in a cliffhanger, which made fans think that the creators already had season 2 in mind.
Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be the case.
Is Jupiter’s Legacy Renewed For Season 2?
Renewal Status: Canceled
Jupiter’s Legacy will no longer return for season 2, Deadline reported. The series premiered on Netflix on 7 May 2021. Netflix often evaluates a show’s performance within its first 30 days on the platform. Although Jupiter’s Legacy ended in a cliffhanger, it isn’t a solid guarantee that they are returning.
In terms of popularity, the superhero series managed to enter Netflix’s top 10 worldwide. However, it wasn’t enough to secure a renewal.
Before the cancelation, Millar spoke to Deadline and said that the show’s return is up to the audience.
“Season 2 is up to the audience. We don’t want to get too cocky. All I see is we’re going into this incredibly bullish. We feel great about it. I’ve watched, even over Covid, I sat in edits every day pretty much, and I never tire of it. So, fingers crossed, people love it as much as we do.”
Unfortunately, the streamer wasn’t that pleased with the show’s overall performance. The show only got a 38% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The eight-episode series reportedly had a budget of $200 million, making it one of the most expensive productions on Netflix. The financial aspect and the low ratings could be among the biggest reasons why Netflix decided to let go of the superhero series.
Following the cancelation, Millar took to Twitter to release a statement,
“We’re confident we’ll return to it later,” Millar wrote.
How Is ‘Supercrooks’ Live-Action Adaptation Connected To Jupiter’s Legacy?
The news of Jupiter’s Legacy being canceled may not be unexpected, but it’s still disheartening. Fortunately, there’s more Millarworld content to anticipate. An upcoming live-action version of ‘Supercrooks’ is currently in development. This new series will revisit the world of Jupiter’s Legacy, but with a focus on supervillains, con artists, petty thieves, and leg-breakers. In the comics, there are character crossovers between ‘Supercrooks’ and Jupiter’s Legacy. However, it’s still uncertain whether the characters from Netflix’s Jupiter’s Legacy will make an appearance in the ‘Supercrooks’ adaptation, as it’s still in its early stages.
Jupiter’s Legacy Season 2 Cast: Who Could’ve Returned?
If only Netflix renewed the show, the following cast member could’ve returned.
Josh Duhamel as Sheldon Sampson / The Utopian
Ben Daniels as Walter Sampson / Brainwave
Leslie Bibb as Grace Kennedy-Sampson / Lady Liberty
Andrew Horton as Brandon Sampson / The Paragon,
Elena Kampouris as Chloe Sampson,
Mike Wade as Fitz Small / The Flare,
Matt Lanter as George Hutchence / Skyfox,
Anna Akana’s character, Raikou Sampson, was killed during season 1’s episode finale. So we were already anticipating that she wouldn’t return.
What Could’ve Been The Plot Of Jupiter’s Legacy Season 2?
Season 2 would’ve picked up on Watler’s plan to overthrow his brother Sheldon as The Union’s Leader. In season 1’s episode finale, it was revealed that Walter- aka Brainwave- was the one who created the clone of Blackstar. Brandon killed the clone in the early part of the series to save the life of his family and friends.
Brandon’s heroic act caused a rift in his relationship with his father, Sheldon, who created the strict moral code which prohibits superheroes from killing anyone.
Walter got away with his devious plans and even kills his daughter Raikou at the end of the series, just to keep his secrets.
Brandon and Sheldon might have patched their relationship, but Brandon’s grown closer to Walter. In the comics, Walter convinces Brandon to betray his parents and join Walter’s side. They convinced other superheroes to join their movement, and Walter’s group killed Sheldon and Grace.
The murder of Sheldon and Grace serves as a pivotal moment in the comics. Walter’s leadership ushers a new world order. Those superheroes who will not follow his principles will be killed if they don’t go into hiding.
It’s worth noting that the Netflix series deviates largely from the comics. For example, Raikou is still very much alive, although she ultimately gets trapped in a nightmarish psychic construct by a reformed villain named Repro. Blackstar also played a much bigger role in the show than he did in the comics. Blackstar only served as a minor villain in the comics but was a major character in season 1. These changes have greatly impacted the storyline of the Netflix adaptation.