Prime Video has canceled “Ride or Die,” the buddy spy comedy starring Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer, after a single season, leaving its future to Paramount Television Studios, which is shopping the series to other buyers.
Deadline first reported the decision Saturday, and TheWrap later confirmed it. The cancellation arrives just over two months after all eight episodes debuted July 15. Critics praised the show, and viewers responded. It regularly topped Prime Video’s U.S. chart, entered Nielsen’s weekly streaming top 10 at No. 8 and climbed to No. 4 in its second week. In Luminate’s first ranking, according to Deadline, it drew roughly twice the audience of “Elle” and nearly four times that of “Off Campus,” both of which Amazon renewed.
Deadline reported that the decision surprised people involved with the show. It also said “Ride or Die” launched with a fraction of the marketing money Amazon put behind its young-adult summer slate, which includes “Elle,” “Off Campus,” “Every Year After” and “Sterling Point.” All four have been renewed. Deadline’s sources suggested the series’ audience of adult women holds less appeal for Amazon because many already subscribe to Prime for shopping. No public explanation from Amazon had surfaced Sunday.
Creator Tessa Coates’ series follows best friends Debbie (Spencer) and Judith (Waddingham), who go on the run across Europe after Debbie discovers her friend is an international assassin. Spencer and Waddingham served as executive producers with showrunner Matt Miller and director Peyton Reed. Ed Skrein and Bill Nighy joined the cast. Development began at Skydance Television, and the project moved to Paramount Television after Skydance’s takeover of Paramount Global. Amazon MGM Studios co-produced.
The move follows a June shake-up in Amazon MGM’s television department. Kara Smith became head of drama, and three senior executives, including development head Michael McDonald, departed. A Paramount representative did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on the effort to find a new home for the show.
