GeekSided
FanSided

ABC quietly cancels hit drama by opting not to extend cast contracts

ByAysha Ashley Househ|
DOCTOR ODYSSEY - ÒShark Attack!Ó - Max and Avery are at a crossroads as Avery faces a difficult pregnancy decision. Meanwhile, after Munroe is bitten by a shark, The Odyssey takes a dangerous detour to rescue a sinking boat, where a mysterious new passenger catches MaxÕs eye. THURSDAY, MARCH 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EST) on ABC. (Disney/Tina Thorpe) PHILLIPA SOO, JOSHUA JACKSON
DOCTOR ODYSSEY - ÒShark Attack!Ó - Max and Avery are at a crossroads as Avery faces a difficult pregnancy decision. Meanwhile, after Munroe is bitten by a shark, The Odyssey takes a dangerous detour to rescue a sinking boat, where a mysterious new passenger catches MaxÕs eye. THURSDAY, MARCH 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EST) on ABC. (Disney/Tina Thorpe) PHILLIPA SOO, JOSHUA JACKSON

Well, it looks like the ship has sailed for one of ABC's hit dramas after only one season. The series that took the medical drama to the high seas has been quietly cancelled at the network since the cast's contracts are officially up. Unfortunately, don't expect Doctor Odyssey season 2 either at all, or at least any time soon.

According to Deadline, Monday, June 30, 2025 is the day the contracts for cast members expire. So if ABC doesn't extend them, which it did not, that means the show goes into a default cancellation. Now the cast members are able to go do other projects, and work on the series is basically over. So while not an official cancellation, it's still basically a cancellation overall.

JOSHUA JACKSON, ANGELA BASSETT
DOCTOR ODYSSEY - ÒCasino WeekÓ - ItÕs Casino Week aboard The Odyssey, and unexpected guest Athena Grant suspects two passengers are targeting the shipÕs vault. Enlisting MaxÕs help, Athena raises the stakes in a dangerous game where not everyone will end up with a winning hand. THURSDAY, MARCH 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Tina Thorpe) JOSHUA JACKSON, ANGELA BASSETT

I mean, I guess there's still a glimmer of hope. The news outlet also notes that network executives are basically giving creator Ryan Murphy all the power and decision-making on where he would want to take the story next. So if he can find time in his busy schedule, already working on new spin-off 911: Nashville for ABC which takes over Doctor Odyssey's time slot, the network is open to bringing it back. Though that's easier said than done because first, they would need to see if they could get all of the cast members back. And second, new contracts would need to be negotiated.

Murphy certainly has a lot on his plate with OG series 911 also returning in fall 2025, All's Fair on Hulu, Monster season 3 on Netflix, and his American Horror Story franchise. I do get that he's busy and I guess it seems like Doctor Odyssey season 2 wasn't a priority for him. Though it's very frustrating as a viewer to know that's the main reason a second season didn't happen. If he had so much going on, why did he commit to the seafaring medical drama in the first place?

It just doesn't make sense to me. Again, the door has been left open and there's still a chance for more. Though there will be a lot of factors and elements to juggle. Plus, the Joshua Jackson-led series gained a certain momentum right now. With it only being one season, there's a big chance it could lose it if ABC and Murphy wait too long. I can tell you there's one person who definitely won't be happy about this news - late-night talk show host John Oliver!

Stay tuned to GeekSided for updates about Doctor Odyssey season 2 on ABC.

More ABC news from GeekSided:

Home/ABC