Raised By Wolves has all the right ingredients of a compelling sci-fi series—high concept drama, thought-provoking plotlines, and stunning visuals. Its speculative storytelling and religious undertones are a far cry from the run-of-the-mill tropes of the genre, yet this high-risk approach toward innovation and artistic integrity has helped Raised By Wolves garner some highly favorable reviews from critics and viewers alike.
Unfortunately, despite receiving critical acclaim, HBO Max has released a statement confirming that they will not be proceeding with a third season of Raised By Wolves. The show's untimely cancellation is surprising not only because of its favorable reviews but also because of the scalability of its remarkably vast world-building. Furthermore, Raised By Wolves season 2's ending also left viewers with many lingering questions that were likely left unresolved for future plot developments. For instance, the motive of the entity on Kepler-22b remains unknown, while even Marcus' fate is a big mystery. With these, and many other glaring loose threads left undone, Raised By Wolves' cancellation is a major letdown.
As speculated by series star Abubakar Salim in a series of tweets (via Discovery's merger with Warner Bros.
Raised By Wolves' cancellation is all the more disappointing because its cast and crew were reportedly all set for another season. Along with the news of the show's cancellation, Salim affirmed that "we have a fully fleshed out and planned storyline, a Goliath of a production team behind us, incredible reception from critics and reviewers alike, and most crucially, a community base that is so strong internationally." In an interview (via Collider), showrunner Aaron Guzikowski also confirmed that he has not stopped working on Raised by Wolves' scripts and continues to live in its universe. Yet despite a clear affection for the series from its cast and crew, many other factors determine the fate of a TV show.
For instance, some of the most Sense 8 take about two to three seasons to find their feet and build solid foundations for their fictional worlds. However, streaming services are often unable to keep up with them because high-concept, visually pleasing dramas usually demand heavy financial investments, which may not always be in tandem with their overall revenue and viewership - and this was likely a factor in Raised By Wolves' cancellation too.
Although Raised By Wolves has no chance of returning on HBO Max, another streaming service could still potentially pick it up in the future. The show's future remains uncertain, but Abubakar Salim (Raised By Wolves) revealed that Scott Free Productions is already on the lookout for another home for the show. The Raised By Wolves star has also encouraged fans to voice their love for the show so that potential streamers can recognize its appeal and perhaps give it another shot down the line.