Animated spinoffs rarely succeed in reviving dormant franchises, yet Netflix has a particular talent for it. Through series like Castlevania Nocturne, the platform has built a niche in anime-style reboots. The only downside is their often brief lifespans.
The streaming service has been discreetly ending some of its most overlooked animated programs. Castlevania‘s status is unclear following its 2025 second season; Tomb Raider ended after two seasons, and Terminator Zero has apparently suffered the same outcome. Show creator Mattson Tomlin confirmed this news on X, informing fans the series is officially over.
“It was cancelled,” Tomlin stated. “The critical and audience reception to it was tremendous, but at the end of the day, not nearly enough people watched it.”
Tomlin emphasized that Netflix producers were highly supportive of Terminator Zero, granting him the latitude to investigate—and radically reimagine—the sci-fi series in bold ways. This is evident in the daring first season, which presented a new timeline and a parallel reality. Netflix provided “tremendous creative freedom,” but may not have marketed Terminator Zero sufficiently to attract the necessary viewership. Despite its merits, the show never entered Netflix’s Top 10 rankings, leaving Tomlin’s broader vision unrealized.
“I would’ve loved to deliver on the Future War I had planned in Seasons 2 and 3, but I’m also very happy with how it feels contained as is,” Tomlin remarked about the series conclusion.
According to Tomlin’s original plan, Terminator Zero could have spanned six seasons, following a complex time-travel plot involving a new savior, a new Terminator, and an unconventional future soldier. The first season took place partly in 2022 and partly in 1997, centering on scientist Malcolm Lee (Andre Holland) as he builds an AI called Kokoro (Rosario Dawson) to counter Skynet. To activate Kokoro, Malcolm must sacrifice himself, an act that ultimately instills in her a belief in humanity and offers the world a defense against Skynet.
While the primary arc for Malcolm and Kokoro concludes in Season 1, Terminator Zero established the foundation for a mind-bending future. It is disclosed that Malcolm originates from a timeline far beyond 2022, journeying to the past to stop an alternate Judgment Day. The series also reveals that Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno), the warrior dispatched to protect him, is actually his mother.
Subsequent seasons would likely have delved into how Eiko arrived in a future era beyond her own, as well as the “Future War” that torments Malcolm. Regrettably, audiences will not witness this expansion: Netflix allegedly proposed that Tomlin conclude his story with a abbreviated season, but he refused. “I felt the story I wanted to tell was much longer, and the finale of season one actually left things in a good place,” he explained.
While seeing more of Tomlin’s plans would have been rewarding, barring access to a genuine time machine, Netflix’s choice appears irreversible.