The Tragically Cancelled Sci-Fi Utopia Would Have Performed Much Better Today

January 9, 2026

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The 13-year-old masterpiece Utopia was, unfortunately, cancelled after its second season, but that wouldn’t have been its fate were it released today. Utopia is a 12-episode British science fiction TV show created by Dennis Kelly. It was initially released on Channel 4 in 2013, and while the critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, viewership dropped significantly with season 2. In the years since, however, Utopia has developed a cult following.

Under the sci-fi umbrella, Utopia is categorized as a conspiracy thriller and black comedy. The story revolves around five online friends, all of whom are comic book enthusiasts. Their lives take an intense turn when one of them develops the theory that a graphic novel called The Utopia Experiments accurately predicts the future occurrence of several deadly pandemics. When he suddenly turns up dead, the other four find themselves the targets of a secret organization known as “The Network.”

2013’s Utopia Would Fit Right In With The Modern Sci-Fi Landscape

Sci-fi television has been popular for decades, but the genre has undergone a recent evolution. Apple TV, especially, has demonstrated all that sci-fi TV can be, with shows like Severance presenting social commentary and conspiracy through a gritty yet comedic lens. Similar shows have continued to perform spectacularly over the last couple of years, and Utopia would fit right in.

Utopia really checks all the boxes regarding what modern audiences are looking for. That classic British wit underscores each episode, layered over with mystery, action, and mind-bending suspense. What’s more, Utopia‘s premise is more relevant than ever, given society’s recent experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, it’s really just a shame that this series didn’t release in 2026 rather than 2013.

The US Remake Of Utopia Was A Victim Of Unfortunate Timing

Paul Ready stares ahead with a look of concern.

Utopia‘s popularity ironically grew after its cancellation. Naturally, this fact opened the door to a revival. So, Utopia joined the list of British shows to get the American remake treatment. The new series was produced by Prime Video and released in September 2020. Unfortunately, it was nowhere near a success.

The Americanized Utopia was but a shadow of its predecessor, so it was unlikely to perform regardless. However, it’s important to note that the premiere’s timing wasn’t ideal. As previously mentioned, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the story of Utopia intensely relevant. However, the world had barely begun to put itself back together when the US remake was released. It was just too soon.

Utopia Is Still Completely Worth The Binge

Arby (Nail Maskell) holding a gun to someone's head in the British action show Utopia — Arby holding a gun to someon’s head in the British action show Utopia

The original Utopia was cancelled for low viewership, not because it was a bad story. If it had aired today, a time when these types of sci-fi shows are more popular than ever, it might not have suffered this fate. Of course, simply acknowledging this fact doesn’t change history. It’s a bitter truth that we will likely never know how Utopia would have progressed past season 2. However, we can still enjoy the existing adventure.

Utopia’s two seasons are available to stream on Prime Video, and with a total of 12 episodes, it makes for an excellent binge. Though the series didn’t have a chance to tie up all its loose ends, the existing story arc is enjoyable and satisfying. If you’re looking for a hidden gem that fits right in with today’s best sci-fi, you can’t get much better than this.