Netflix drops disappointing update on 'Alice in Borderland' future after three hit seasons
It appears that 'Alice in Borderland' will not see a season 4. The hit Netflix show premiered in December 2020 and ran three seasons before the streamer quietly pulled the plug on the fourth instalment. The sci-fi series follows Arisu (Kento Yamazaki), who shuts himself off to play video games when he's sent on a mission to Borderland. The circumstances and the dangers force him to survive deadly threats and build relationships.
Earlier on Wednesday, ScreenRant reported that Netflix had cancelled the Japanese show after three seasons. It stated that the streamer's latest report referred to the show's third season as the "third and final season of Alice in Borderland." The outlet also added that Netflix didn't provide any details behind the cancellation. For those who have caught the third season, there was a definitive conclusion to the show, though there was hope for a new season.
Previously, the series star Tao Tsuchiya spoke of more storylines on Arisu and Usagi’s child in the Borderland. "When season two wrapped up, I felt like that was a great way to finish the story, so I was kind of surprised when they presented season three to me!" Tsuchiya told THR. Thinking ahead, obviously, in this season, which you haven’t seen yet, [Usagi is] pregnant, so there’s going to be a child in the future, and she would love to see that child return [to the normal world], not just the two lead characters. The story is set to be familial. I think that could be really interesting."
Added Kento Yamazaki: "I am a fan of the show myself, and to be able to make season three comes with a bit of pressure as well because it’s so beloved by the global audience. But we have such an incredible team that I was just filled with joy on set. And of course, if it’s going to continue in some way, I’ll be very much keen to be part of that." Neither of the leads promised a potential season 4. That said, there is no word on whether there will be a spinoff at some point in the future.
Per the series logline, season three of Alice in Borderland picks up the action after Usagi and Arisu manage to “escape” parallel Tokyo to wake up in a hospital and then slowly discover that they were survivors of a devastating meteor strike on Shibuya. Crucially, they have no memories of Borderland or the games. The logline reads, “After Usagi is abducted and left unconscious by a mysterious scholar obsessed with the afterlife, Arisu returns to the perilous ‘Borderland’ to save her. Teaming up with new players, they must face the yet-unseen ‘Joker’ stage in a desperate bid to find a way back to their original world.”
'Alice in Borderland' Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Netflix.
