Shortly after A&E canceled Longmire, the series based on Craig Johnson’s mystery novels about a Wyoming sheriff, the show’s producers were reportedly trying desperately to find it a new home.
Well, they might have found one – Netflix.
Netflix, which is no stranger to reviving dead shows, is apparently in talks to produce a new season of Longmire, which could start shooting as early as March of 2015. Deadline has the scoop:
Sources caution that negotiations between Netflix and Longmire producer Warner Horizon have been tricky, and there is a chance that a final agreement may not be reached, though there is a will on both sides and insiders are hopeful. If a deal closes, Season 4 of Longmire eyes a tentative March production start date.
Netflix would be a good fit to continue the series, as the company already has a deal with Warner Bros. for exclusive streaming rights to the first three seasons.
So, what led to this? Why did A&E cancel the well-reviewed Longmire in the first place? Didn’t it have a pretty loyal fan base?
Yes, it did does. But that fan base is old – at least older than with most cable dramas. Apparently, the median age of Longmire viewers was 60 years old. And in a medium (cable television) that’s beholden to that coveted 18-49 demographic, this older fan base was a real problem.
Could Netflix step in and be the white knight? Could they say screw the demographics?
Of course they could – Netflix doesn’t have to deal with advertisers. Netflix churns on subscriptions. And what better way to target a hard-to-reach demographic (50+) than to pick up a new season of one of its most-beloved, but sadly canceled shows?
What do you think? Is Longmire a good fit for Netflix? If you don’t already pay for Netflix, would you if they produced a new season of Longmire?
Image via Warner Bros, YouTube screenshot
