It’s that time of year when the networks make their decisions on shows “on the bubble.” That includes ABC’s Big Sky. Will the crime drama return for a fourth season or not?
Premiering in November of 2020, Big Sky was one of the first network shows produced amid the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It got attention for the shocking conclusion of the first episode as Ryan Phillippe, who’d been promoted as the series’s main star, was killed off.
The show thus focused on Jenny Hoyt (Katheryn Winnick) and Cassie Dewell (Kylie Bunbury), who run a private detective agency in a Montana town. The first season had them investigating a human trafficking ring tied to a corrupt deputy and culminated in Jenny rejoining the local police force.
Season 2 moved the focus to a drug operation. The third season had country music legend Reba McEntire playing against type as a sinister camp owner amid various criminal activities, with Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles as a cop.
The first season did well in the ratings and earned a renewal. However, ratings have been lower for the last two seasons. There’s also how Season 3 wrapped up in January, thus leaving its fate up in the air. So will the drama return for Season 4?
Is Big Sky Season 4 happening on ABC?
Sadly for fans, ABC has canceled the series after three seasons. It appears the ratings simply weren’t good enough for ABC, which, like other networks, is tightening the belt in economics and not up for the location shooting. There’s also the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike keeping various shows from being produced.
Despite coming from superstar writer/producer David E. Kelly, the series wasn’t able to get beyond a niche audience and was not promoted well by ABC. At least the series had a good run on the network, but for now, the future of Big Sky is done for good.