Alan Tudyk Seemingly Reveals Why ‘Resident Alien’ Was Canceled & Hints at Revival
The cult favorite Syfy/USA series Resident Alien wrapped up its run on Friday (August 8), but the show’s lead star, Alan Tudyk, has given hope for a potential revival somewhere down the line.
Chris Sheridan, the show’s creator, previously announced the cancellation to TV Insider, saying, “I knew going into [Season 4] that this was likely going to be our final season… I’m so proud of how good Season 4 is and especially proud that we were able to finish as strongly as we did, with a finale that is probably my favorite episode of the series.”
On Sunday (August 10), Tudyk responded to a fan on the social media app Threads, where he opened up about the reasons behind the cancellation, plus the possibility of reviving the series in the future.
Tudyk was replying to a video of himself, where he summed up Season 4 in three words, saying, “The last season.”
“Whoa whoa whoa the mic failed to pick up the last part of the sentence,” he wrote in response. “The last season …….in its current incarnation on SYFY and or Discovery, but certainly under the UNIVERSAL banner.”
Resident Alien aired on Syfy between 2021 and 2024 before coming close to cancellation after the third season. The show was eventually picked up for a fourth and final season, which was simulcast on Syfy and USA.
Tudyk listed some of the reasons that led to the axing while also speaking on the chances of the show returning on a different network. “But hopefully one day after an appropriate time for the business to find its feet again after being gutted by changing business models and evolving media options for an aging and simultaneous younger audience,” he said.
Season 4 episodes averaged around 400,000 viewers, combining both the Syfy and USA audiences. This was down on the third season, which averaged about 500,000 per episode.
Fans jumped into the comments to react to Tudyk’s post, with one Threads user writing, “This won’t be the last season, we’re waiting for more.”
“Thank you for such a BEAUTIFUL show! It truly showed the human element and how good humans can be! You guys made me laugh when I truly needed it most!” said another.
“It should be ‘The last season… for now!’ Still waiting on the next Firefly movie or season. I am holding out hope,” wrote one commenter, referencing another beloved Tudyk sci-fi show that was axed.
Another added ,”I’d love for Resident Alien to come back somewhere.”
“I truly hope this show is picked up by an adventurous and supportive studio. Alan, you are a treasure, sir,” one fan commented.
“You and the team are going to be missed. Thanks for the joy and tears,” said another.
Based on the comic book of the same name by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, Resident Alien centered on an extraterrestrial (Tudyk) who crash-lands on Earth with a mission to wipe out humanity but finds himself in a moral dilemma after taking over the identity of a doctor.
Resident Alien, Streaming Now, Peacock
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Please bring Resident Alien back. It's the best television show in a long time. It made me laugh which is a rare commodity in today's television series. All my family and friends loved it also. Now I have nothing entertaining to watch!! PLEASE PLEASE bring it back!!!
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Love this show! Binging it on Neflix and it just warms my heart. Very deep and complex characters.
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And the viewership numbers don't reflect people like us who binge watch entire seasons or even watch it "on-demand" after the actual airing time, which is probably MORE than people who actually watch it during it's initial airing, especially in that time slot. Almost nobody watches their favorite shows (mostly meaning TV series, not talk shows or news type shows) on the day or time of their initial airing anymore. Once Netflix reveals the numbers of viewers who binged season 4 and watch the entire series on Netflix, they'll have a more accurate number of viewers & the show's popularity. That's why they keft so many spin-off & re-boot doors open in season 4, producers are adapting to how WE watch TV faster & more accurately than the network stiffs. Producers understand the change in dynamics while network execs are desperate & pretend it's still the late 90s/early 2000s to fool themselves into thinking they're still king of the hill.
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My wife and I watched that show religiously! One of our favorite shows!
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Yes I loved the show and hated t0 see it end but it was a beautiful and moving ending with everyone standing watching Harry leaving, I'm hoping to continue the story with the new alien learning how to manage life on earth like Harry did, a new network will probably make changes to the backdrop although patience would be familiar for fans and knowingly different places to construct like the cabin, hopefully keeping the main cast but that all depends on availability and of course money, as with any reboot, things change, but don't change too much because that's what kills reboots many times. People expect things to be simular to original and not always the case so show gets canceled after first season never really having a chance, so networks pickup this one before it's totally dead,,!,please!,,!!
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SPOILERS!!!
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This wasn't just a show to me, the dynamic between actors made me think fondly of my friends when we were younger. It really spoke to my heart and not gonna lie, I cried during the finally and even put off watching it for a bit bc I didn't want to face reality that it was done. This show had the best actors and the characters were all strong on their own yet brought a strength as a team. Not many shows like it.. please bring it back!
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Going to so miss Resident Alien! The comedy, the drama, the sci-fi aspect all blended into one spectacular show. The actors were all superb and so suited to their characters. Each season kept getting better and better. Unfortunately it's all too common that a good show gets cut down in it's prime. PLEEEESE REVIVE IT!
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This is some bullshit!
But seriously, I would sign up for whatever streaming service picks this show up.
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Very sad but maybe worth a screen play ! Would be great on a big screen!
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Hopefully Alan's character would be killedcoff
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The way Alan Tudyk played the role of an alien learning and attempting to act like a human was simply awesome! That had to be difficult at times, but the laugh-out-loud lines and how they are delivered just kept coming! We love this show, and the actors doing a great job! We will miss it dearly but fingers-crossed for a revival somewhere....sometime!
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Best show on television, so naturally it gets canceled. No words for such a short-sighted decision. It was the most creative, touching, and hilarious show around.
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We loved the show and are really hoping it is picked up. An awesome cast who worked so well together. The BEST final show I have ever watched. I will always play the song in the final episode and remember the whole show. Thank everyone involved, you all did a great job.
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Let's go we want more! You are correct this is some bull shit!
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This is heartbreaking. Finally a really good show on TV and you have to cancel it. Didn't Trump like it or something.
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That's probably reason why they canceled itThat's probably reason why they canceled it.
Dang Hollywood can't stand anything that a republican or Trump says is good.
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As Harry would say, Son- of- a-Bitch that's some bullshit!!
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I knew the network intended to cancel it when it was given an 11 pm " we want to kill this show" time slot
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I really enjoyed the show. I liked the alien part with being so realistic with humor as to how they didn't understand the appropriate way humans should react and say in certain situations and Harry started having human feelings after being around humans. I cracked up specially at the beginning episodes things Harry said. I would have loved to see more for many years. I really looked forward to each show taping to watch again later. I was hoping for the characters who played were perfect for their part and the ones who were leaving could back to save the world again and again in future episodes. Being found out being an alien by so many could have their memories blocked for future episodes. I was left with wanting more and more to come (Hope) then The End. Best show for me and it had to end!!!
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I sure hope Resident Alien gets picked up, again, somewhere down the pike. Mr. Tudyk is an absolute treasure.
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The creator should've asked the cast if they wanted it to end. From what I've read and heard, the cast loves the show. Its fun show for all and way better than 90% of anything else on TV
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There's a typo in the first sentence; was obviously meant to say that Tudyk hasn't given up hope. I hope the RA comes back. It's one of the very best modern series.
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I loved the show. I hated to see it leave. Please bring it back with Asta and Harry getting together.
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It's almost like executives are a bunch of totally out of touch dinosaurs or something.
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I love this show! Why? I hope they make a season 5. Make it for a streaming app then cause I dont want it to end, this shows awesome
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My husband and I LOVED Resident Alien. It was one of the highlights of our week. It's so typical to see an excellent show cancelled based on how many people are watching. The quality of the show should be the biggest consideration and if the show had a better timeslot I'm sure it would have been massively popular. We are going to miss this show so much. Please bring it back!!!!
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Resident Alien. What a fantastic show! So many great moments! I put this show on my list of all time favorites including Star Trek, Babylon 5 and Speed Racer. The writing and acting was superb. The quirky sense of humor really appealed to my own uniqueness. Hopefully this show will find its way back from the stars
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Oh no.
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This show was the best show I wish I had a friend like harry he came to kill humanity and became a doctor and loving alien 👽 please dont end the show you guys were a great cast im going to miss my favorite alien Alan tudyk you are the most amazing person and ALIEN and like harry would say this is some bulls...
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Do they consider all the people like me who watch it on Peacock after the initial showing? There must be thousands of bus.
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What an absolutely unbelievable show & cast! Haven't been this excited about a show in years!! I still cannot believe this show was axed after only 4 seasons!! The way these networks receive & analyze viewer data, then use it as the deciding factor to axe a show in it's 4th season, that they failed to properly advertise correctly in the beginning is just wrong! The way these networks just take a show, throw it out there & hope for the best, like a roll of the dice is also wrong & it's unfair to the writers, actors, staff, & it's fan base! When the first season started, I must have asked/talked to more than 100 different people about this show, in person & online, NONE of them knew anything about the show or had even heard about it! Who's fault is that? You set it up for failure from the beginning! Now after getting axed in it's 4th season just about everyone i talk to now, friends, family, neighbors, random people I've bumped into, all either watch the show or are just starting to hear about it now. I'm sorry but that's just piss poor business! The entitled generation running these networks now, are clueless & hopeless! Your broken viewer data doesn't even come close to nailing down the older generations (gen x & b boomers)! I believe there's still hope & it will get picked back up. Those responsible for killing this show in it's infancy, I hope, come to realize what a big mistake they made....... well and hopefully they're kick out on their assets too! #ResidentAlien
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lease signe the petetions to save the show
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I agree with most everything said this show was a joy. I feel the poor viewing was the timeslot. If this show was on at 9pm it would most likely explode with new viewers. If Netflix grabs it as all streaming it would be an awesome gift.
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Seasons 1-3 of Resident Alien are currently streaming on Netflix. Season 4 will be added at some point.
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Such a fantastic show. There was definitely more to explore. Sad to see it end after only 4 seasons.
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Between 2024 and 2025, Resident Alien accumulated 403.2 million viewing hours on Netflix, which translates to approximately 45.8 million total views. In addition, tracking platforms like FlixPatrol recorded a single-year milestone of over 208 million hours viewed for the sci-fi comedy on the platform. Come on……….
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These were good actors, that got together and created a great show. The writing was great, and all the actors on the show really delivered. and as Harry would say , “this is some bullshit”
Hopefully Netflix picks it up 🤞🏻
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Harry is one of the main reasons I like it with the actor Allan T. playing the role.
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Peacock has all 4 seasons. I want this show back so badly. You are so right about viewers, evidently they are are not counting us!!!
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Seasons 1-4 is current showing on Peacock. I have watched them over and over.
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Please some broadcast station bring on season 5. Resident Alien is one of my delightful show to watch and I looked forward to it faithfully. I’m so sick and tired of these stupid reality shows surviving airtime when good fun shows like resident alien faces or get cancelled. I’m like the alien Harry…..”that’s some bulls***”😜
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Please bring Resident Alien back....please , please , please.
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I just discovered Resident Alien on Nexflix and still cry and the end of season 4...which is on Amazon Prime. What an amazing combination of brilliant talents , ideas, social commentary and science. It wasnt marketed properly , when I tried to purchase seasons 1-3 it was out of stock. There is so much more to Resident Alien....
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Not having a season 5 is “some bullshit” lol
We just found this show and binged it because it really was funny. There are some great writers on this show!
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Please bring it back!! Best show ever and has made me laugh so hard .
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I think it's too bad people aren't as good as Harry thinks they are.
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This was one of my favorite shows and I will miss it
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What would I watch when Netflix drops the ball on sci-fi, fantasy and horror movies!
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OUTSTANDING AND BRILLIANT SHOW , always a FABULOUS Performance EACH TIME ! PLEASE BRING IT BACK , I look so forward to every show , More than WEDNESDAY or STRANGER THINGS coming .
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Oh yeah, that's it. What's it like going through life in cow-eyed, mouth-breathing bliss? To be as docile as a hindu calf. I bet it's total zen to have a brain completely bereft of cranial ridges.
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My husband and I loved Resident Alien. Alan Tudyk is superb. However, I gave up on the show just beginning the 4th season. The reason being the swearing. Most of it being funny except when the writers started using the Lords Name in vain. I am not a religious fanatic but I am a true follower of Jesus Christ. I was very saddened when the writers stepped over the line for me.
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Omg are you serious right now? We don't need this unfair negativity, Get over it, it's not that serious and this was an excellent show from beginning to end! Not religious? Maybe you should be, because you should try not to be so judgmental and enjoy life, because it doesn't last forever! Go hug a tree, maybe that will help. ✌️
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It's an initial "shock" response. She'll change her mind and finish the season. I've noticed most very religious people over-react when they feel their particular religion is being offended, then realize it's not that deep when it comes to it being done as a comedic pressure relief valves to over state a scene or sequence and get over it.
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I have four words. Suck it up, buttercup.
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I've really enjoyed the series. It's funny and it's different. But unfortunately it isn't going to be coming back on another network. This season it has averaged 400,000 viewers per episode. There are dozens of semi-pro bloggers who get that many viewers daily. Producing a TV series requires serious money and even more serious income to pay the bills and make a profit. This series has 8 actors who have appeared in every episode and 14 more who have appeared in more than 10 episodes of the 44. That's a huge payroll. With 400,000 viewers the money just isn't there.
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Again because it's not offered live on streaming service, no one has cable TV anymore
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That system is incorrect and broken!
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I always record everything before I watch it, so I wonder if that affects the viewership numbers?
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They have 400,000 viewers at the airing time of the show, streaming it or watching it "on-Demand" is not accounted for, and the real viewership could be up to or over 1,000,000. The time slot also played a role in it, as they recieve feed-back from streamed numbers & those who like to wait for entire seasons to conclude then binge watch it they might decide to re-boot the showing a venue directly aimed at the viewers' preferences. Even if they spin off a trial run with the "Agent" Sheriff & "Agent" Deputy doing their comedic under-cover "thing" with familiar cast members jumping g in & out of episodes, at first to test the waters, they could guage the true popularity of the show then merge that into a reboot. They left a lot of openings for a lot if different ways to re-introduce the show. If there was no thought of returning, they would have made a definitive closure type ending.
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