Is Justified: City Primeval canceled? (Will there be a Season 2?)

Justified: City Primeval wrapped up its first season with a stunning twist! But does this mean what was advertised as a limited series will get another year? Here’s what we know!

Caution: This article has SPOILERS for the Justified: City Primeval finale

All season, Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) has been hunting gunman Clement Mansell (Boyd Holbrook), who had killed a corrupt judge and stolen his book of names of cops, lawyers and other judges on the take. It was a cat-and-mouse game that involved Raylan sleeping with Clement’s lawyer, Carolyn Wilder (Aunjuane Ellis).

Raylan thought he’d gotten the murder weapon, handing it to Detroit cop Maureen Dowd. To Raylan’s shock, Maureen used the weapon to frame an innocent man for the killing, as her name was in the book. Raylan tried to trick Clement into giving himself up, only for the pair to be abducted by the Albanian mobsters Clement had tried to rip off earlier in the season.

The finale opened with the mobsters locking Clement into a safe room of his mark and figuring justice was done. Raylan dropped the dime on Maureen as it looked like things were finished. But Raylan, being Raylan, just couldn’t let it drop and headed to let Clement out. It turned out one of the Albanians had tried to get revenge, only for Clement to kill him and escape.

After wiping out the mob, Clement made the mistake of trying to beat Raylan and paid for it with his life. Six weeks later, Raylan was back in Miami while Carolyn got her judgeship (mostly thanks to how all the other candidates were also in the corrupt judge’s book). Just when it looked like Raylan was about to get a promotion, he decided to quit the Rangers and focus on his family instead.

So, it looked to be a nice wrap-up to the saga. But in the stunning final scene, back in Kentucky, Raylan’s old friend turned criminal enemy Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) broke out of prison. The final scene had Raylan on his boat with his daughter as the Marshals began calling him.

That looked to be a perfect setup for a second season, but is it coming?

Is there a Season 2 for Justified: City Primeval?

The show had been advertised as a limited series and seemed to be just a brief revival. However, the addition of Boyd and his escape looks like an obvious hook for a new year.

Speaking to Deadline, showrunner Michael Dinner explained the Boyd cameo was filmed in just 36 hours due to Goggins’s schedule. He also touched on the possibility of a second season, saying it’s all up to FX.

"“Look, if there’s not, I feel really good about this. We did this to have a good time. But I feel like there is another story to be told as long as we all are convinced, including John Landgraf, that we don’t want to mess up the original ending on the first Justified. But I do think that it’s something that I would like to do, that Andron would like to do, that Tim would like to do, and Walton would like to do. And it’s really, does it fit in FX’s plans or not? There was a discussion about this before the strike happened, so certainly, nobody’s thinking about it because of the strike. We’re not allowed to talk to FX. But I do think there’s a third act.”"

Dinner summed up that while they put in the Boyd appearance, hoping for a new year, they would be satisfied if this was the end.

FX has yet to make any decision on the show, depending on the final ratings. Obviously, the various strikes across Hollywood will affect a decision on a new season. However, the surprise return of Boyd and the hint of a new cat-and-mouse game between the old frenemies is already getting Justified fans excited and could mean another year of Raylan Givens and his adventures.

Justified: City Primeval is now streaming on Hulu.