David Farnor | On 15, May 2020

The Purge and Treadstone have been cancelled by USA Network.

The series, both produced in part by UCP and based on feature film franchises, were acquired by Amazon Prime Video as exclusives in the UK.

The Purge, spun off from the Blumhouse film series of the same name, explores an alternate reality where a 12-hour period has been introduced when all crime – including murder – is legal. Created by James Demonaco, the series is produced by Jason Blum and exec produced by Tomas Kelly, and ran for two seasons.

From producers of the Bourne franchise, Treadstone explores the origin story and present-day actions of Operation Treadstone, the covert CIA Black Ops programme that uses behaviour modification to turn recruits into nearly superhuman assassins. Exec-produced by Tim Kring (Heroes). Ben Smith and Jeffrey Weiner (Bourne franchise), it follows sleeper agents across the globe as they’re mysteriously “awakened” to resume their deadly missions. It ran for just one season.

“A fast pace and brutal action makes this Bourne spin-off a surprisingly arresting watch,” we wrote in our review.

Despite broadly positive reception for both programmes, however, USA Network has given both the axe, as their viewership apparently wasn’t justifying their expensive production costs, even taking into account the Amazon deal.

The cancellations come shortly after USA Network also cancelled its new drama Dare Me, as it looks to move more into unscripted territory, such as Temptation Island, and event-style scripted series, such as its upcoming Evel Knievel limited series, starring Milo Ventimiglia.

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