Wondering why Animal Kingdom fans keep asking about a seventh season years after the show ended? With its shocking finale and renewed popularity, speculation has resurfaced about whether the Cody family story could continue.
Here’s the real reason TNT didn’t make Season 7 and how the series officially came to an end.
Was Animal Kingdom Season 7 canceled by TNT?
TNT chose to end Animal Kingdom with Season 6 and announced the decision in 2021. The final episode aired on August 28, 2022. Deadline reported that the cast and crew received word about the final season months before the official announcement was made.
Animal Kingdom premiered in 2016 and featured Ellen Barkin, Shawn Hatosy, Finn Cole, Jake Weary, Ben Robson, and others. The series followed the criminal Cody family under the rule of matriarch Smurf. Adapted from the 2010 Australian film, the show ran for six seasons and concluded with a dramatic ending.
In the show, J (Finn Cole) betrayed Deran (Weary) and Craig (Robson) during a police shootout. A store owner shot and killed Craig during a robbery. Pope (Hatosy), fatally wounded, set fire to the Cody house and died in the flames. J poisoned his girlfriend, Penny (Stevie Lynn Jones), and left for a tropical island, where he remained alone.
Smurf (Ellen Barkin) died in Season 4 after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis. When she tried to force Pope to kill her, J intervened and pulled the trigger. J shot her after she tried to force Pope to kill her. Showrunner John Wells said there were “endless conversations” about who should kill Smurf and noted it was central to the story’s final arc.
Although no new season or spinoff is currently planned, former TNT general manager Brett Weitz told Deadline, “When [John Wells] feels like there’s a natural evolution to that show or spinoff, not only is my door open, but there’s probably a slot on the air for him.”
Executive producer Daniele Nathanson also speculated about Deran’s future, saying, “I believe he hooks up first with Renn, discusses what they’re going to do with [her and Craig’s infant son] Nick, and he also reaches out to Adrian. They can form some type of family unit.” (via TV Line)
All six seasons are available on Netflix.
