DC TV Renewal Watch: 2017 Edition

As we enter the second half of the 2016-2017 television season, networks are prepping their schedules for next season. Some shows will be renewed, some shows will be cancelled, and some completely new shows will debut.

In recent years, DC Entertainment has drastically beefed up its television portfolio, with several ongoing shows running across multiple networks.

Here, you can find a list of DC television shows that are currently on the air. Which ones have been renewed? Which ones have been cancelled? Find out below.

This list will be consistently updated with new renewal/cancellation information as soon as it hits.

Arrow: Renewed

Arrow, which kicked off The CW’s shared DC TV universe, will return for a sixth season next fall. While the show has dealt with lower ratings this season, the network is still confident in the flagship title. Season six is significant because it will be the first season without Oliver’s flashback story arc. The flashbacks from Oliver’s point of view will end this year, returning to where we saw him in the pilot. What happens next? Marc Guggenheim said that season six will have some episodes without flashbacks, while others will have flashbacks from other characters’ POVs. So, while flashbacks won’t go away entirely, they’ll be retooled. Other than that, plot details on Arrow season six are unknown. But, we’ll have a better idea of next year’s storyline after the second half of season five.

The Flash: Renewed

The Flash has consistently been The CW’s biggest show, DC or otherwise, for the past couple years. So, of course the network would renew it for a fourth season. Many plot details for The Flash season four are under wraps, but the big bad will not be a speedster – a first for the series – while we will likely see less time travel and alternate realities. For the rest of the current season, Barry Allen has to change the future in order to save Iris. But Savitar’s prophecies (“One shall betray you. One shall fall. One shall suffer a fate far worse than death.”) will surely have a big impact on next season and beyond.

Supergirl: Renewed

Supergirl switched over from CBS to The CW for its second season. The show has continued to grow this year, which makes this renewal unsurprising. Again, plot details on Supergirl season three are unknown. But, obviously, we will have a better idea of next year’s storyline following the second half of season two. Kara still has to defeat Mon-El’s mother, Rhea, this season, but after that? The sky is the limit. Also, the season two finale will introduce season three’s big bad, while Lena Luthor will be a series regular.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: Renewed

Like Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow has dealt with lower ratings than fellow shows The Flash and Supergirl. But unlike Arrow, Legends consists of CG-heavy action sequences in every episode, which made some wonder if the show will be renewed. Fortunately, The CW has given Legends a third season renewal. Before it premiered last year, the show set out to tell a single story with a single mission, as well as a rotating cast of characters. Season two demonstrated this, and season three will too. Next year, we’ll be meeting a previously established DC character, but not one who originates from the comics. Additionally, Legends switched over to a 9 PM on Tuesdays time slot for the second half of this season. Will season three continue in this slot? We shall see.

Gotham: Renewed

Gotham is going to wrap up its third season in June, but the Batman prequel series will live on for another year, as Fox has renewed the show for a fourth season. Plot details are under wraps, of course, but the season would obviously continue the story of Bruce Wayne transforming into the eventual Dark Knight. Additionally, the season three finale may introduce the show’s version of Harley Quinn (or a precursor, anyways), ahead of a bigger role in season four.

Lucifer: Renewed

Fox’s hit Vertigo adaptation Lucifer will live on for another year, as the network has renewed it for a third season. The season will consist of 22 episodes. The show has proven to be a reliable performer in ratings, so this one isn’t too surprising. Again, plot details are kept under wraps, but we’ll probably get a better idea after the season two finale. The show is currently on hiatus, with its second season resuming on May 1st.

iZombie: Renewed

iZombie returned with a 13-episode third season on April 4th. It was one of the shows that did not get an early renewal in January, which made fans wonder if season three is its last. But fear not, as The CW confirmed that the show will return for a fourth season. It’s unclear if the season will air in the fall or during midseason again. Plot details on season four are currently under wraps. However, a “big” reveal was cut from the season three finale, so expect it to pop up next season.

Powerless: Cancelled

The Powerless series premiered on February 2nd. Since then, the show has been a low ratings performer. In fact, NBC pulled the last couple episodes from its schedule before they could air. So, it shouldn’t be too surprising that network has cancelled the series after just one season. This marks only the second DC TV show in the post-Arrow world to get cancelled, following Constantine in 2015 (which, coincidentally, was also by NBC).

Preacher: Renewed

AMC premiered the fan favorite Vertigo adaptation Preacher last summer. The network quickly renewed it for a second season, which will premiere on June 25th, 2017. The season will run 13 episodes, compared to season one’s 10 episode order.

Which DC television show’s return are you most looking forward to next year?