Iconic Australian soap opera Neighbours is reportedly being cancelled again, just two years after Amazon revived it. According to The Sun Newspaper, production company Fremantle and Amazon have failed to reach a new agreement, leading to the show’s impending end.
Here’s the Lowdown: Neighbours, which famously featured stars like Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, and Guy Pearce (who all returned for the supposed “final” episode in 2022), was saved by Amazon in late 2022 after being dropped by Channel 5. Filming restarted in 2023, and the show aired on Amazon Freevee. However, Amazon discontinued Freevee last year, moving the show to Prime Video. Now, The Sun says, Amazon has informed Fremantle that the soap opera venture hasn’t been successful and they are withdrawing funding.
What This Means Now: If the report is accurate, Neighbours will cease production this summer, with the final episode airing at the end of the year. This would be a remarkably short run after the much-publicized revival. The cast and crew’s knowledge of this development is currently unknown.
The Bigger Picture: The reported cancellation, so soon after being brought back, highlights the volatile nature of the television industry, even for established shows with a dedicated fanbase. The move also raises questions about Amazon’s strategy regarding original content and its commitment to long-term projects. While the revival earned Emmy nominations, apparently viewership figures weren’t strong enough to justify continued investment. The show had previously run from 1985-2022.
