Netflix has grounded The Recruit, the spy drama starring Noah Centineo, after just two seasons. The cancellation comes surprisingly quickly after the second season’s late-January premiere.
Here’s the Lowdown: News of the show’s demise broke via social media, courtesy of Colton Dunn, who played Lester Kitchens. Netflix later confirmed the cancellation. The Recruit, created by Alexi Hawley and produced by Lionsgate and Hypnotic, followed Owen Hendricks (Centineo), a rookie CIA lawyer embroiled in international intrigue. The first season launched in December 2022, the second, after a 2 year gap, earlier this year, at the end of January.
What This Means Now: Despite seemingly strong initial viewership numbers – reaching No. 2 on both Nielsen’s and Netflix’s streaming charts in its debut week, and seeing growth in its second week – the series couldn’t maintain enough momentum. A shortened six-episode second season, compared to the first season’s eight, may have also played a role.
The Bigger Picture: The Recruit joins a growing list of shows impacted by last year’s writers’ strike, with a two-year gap between seasons. Season one saw Centineo’s Owen Hendricks get to grips with life at the CIA, while Season 2 featured Hendricks being abducted and facing off against various threats, including a rogue CIA operative played by Angel Parker. Alongside Centineo the cast boasted Fivel Stewart, Vondie Curtis Hall, Kristian Bruun, and Aarti Mann, with new additions for Season 2 including Kaylah Zander, Maddie Hasson, Parker, and Yoo. Notably, Nathan Fillion appeared as CIA Director Alton West. Creator Alexi Hawley revealed that the shorter second season forced cuts to storylines, including the backstory of a key character. Although the show achieved a global Top 10 presence, it wasn’t enough to secure its future.
