Top 5 Netflix Shows That Won't Be Returning This Year

As soon as the writers' and actors' strikes came to an end, people got excited about their beloved shows returning to the screen in the near future. Sadly, for these five Netflix series, that future isn't as near as we'd like it to be.

Stranger Things (Season 5)

Netflix's ultimate flagship series, Stranger Things, has been around for nearly a decade, but has only spanned four seasons so far. The fifth and final installment of the show was reportedly severely affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023. So much so that production on Season 5 only began in January 2024. Since ST uses a lot of VFX, the new eight-episode installment won't be released until 2025.

Wednesday (Season 2)

The hit supernatural series made a splash when it premiered in 2022, which is why it was immediately picked up for a second season. In 2023, production of the new installment was hampered by many factors, from the aforementioned strikes to a change in filming location. Reportedly, Season 2 of Wednesday will begin filming in Ireland this April at the earliest, making its release this year impossible.

One Piece (Season 2)

Despite the turmoil, 2023 managed to surprise audiences with a number of quality premieres, and One Piece was one of the most successful and appreciated releases. The live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's manga series of the same name proved to be a hit, and was quickly renewed for a second season by Netflix. However, work on the second installment began after the strikes ended, meaning it is still in production and unlikely to premiere before 2025.

Sweet Magnolias (Season 4)

Netflix's ultimate feel-good drama series has been helping audiences cheer up since 2020, when Season 1 was released. The third installment of Sweet Magnolias premiered in the heat of the writers and actors strikes in 2023, which is why the show was left in limbo. SW was just renewed for a fourth season in October. And production has reportedly not yet begun, meaning the show is a long way from returning.

Virgin River (Season 6)

Since its debut in 2019, the fan-favorite romance drama has been released once a year in a row. Now, however, that tradition is set to be broken as production on Season 6 of the show, which has been hit hard by the strikes, has yet to begin. Filming in British Columbia, Canada, Virgin River is said to start production of the sixth installment this coming spring, when the weather conditions are better. As a result, the show will not return to the small screen until next year.