Why did Netflix save Manifest?

Over the past few months, it’s unlikely that casual Netflix fans and anyone with a Twitter account didn’t happen to come across a little show called Manifest. Originally an NBC series, the missing plane drama didn’t truly take off until the network canceled it after three seasons.

Following the cancellation, a viral fan campaign to save Manifest arrived in tandem with the show positively blowing up on Netflix. The first two seasons racked up billions of streaming minutes week after week, ultimately leading Netflix to save the series for season 4.

But some fans might be wondering how Netflix managed to beat out the show’s previous home for the fourth and final season. And if you’re one of the many who have been apprehensive to start watching the show following its cancellation, learning about what went into saving it might give you the push you need.

So, why did Netflix step in to save Manifest from cancellation? Was it the fan demand, or did all of those streaming minutes add up to a financial success they couldn’t miss? Here’s all the details of how and why the series secured its second chance on the streaming service.

Manifest season 4 episode count

Even though Manifesters were hoping for three more seasons to complete creator Jeff Rake’s six-season vision, Netflix picked up Manifest season 4 as the final installment of the series. However, the streamer beefed up the episode count to a whopping 20 episodes, the largest order of the series.

According to TV Line, NBC was willing to reverse its cancellation for a 12-episode final season, which would shave off an episode from the two previous orders of 13 episodes for seasons 2 and 3. Additionally, NBC wanted to negotiate a decreased licensing fee from Warner Bros. TV and a streaming deal with NBC’s streamer Peacock.

In the end, Netflix put up the better bargain with a super-sized final-season order that’s set to be split into parts — a la Lucifer — that are yet to be determined. Interestingly enough, Lucifer’s “fifth and final season” on Netflix was later followed by a sixth and actually final season renewal.

Manifest season 4 budget

Obviously, a major part of any production, whether it’s television or movies, is the budget. Everything revolves around the budget, and when a show has been hit with cancellation, the biggest factor in bringing it back has to do with the financials.

The budget isn’t always the most interesting part for fans. We’re here for the spoilers and release dates, right? However, Netflix upping the budget per episode from $4 million to $5 million, as well as bumping all the salaries for each of the series leads, is something to celebrate.

To put the budget increase into perspective, all of those special effects involving the callings and the Flight 828 plane are about to look even better in Manifest season 4. Did anyone else just get even more excited for the new episodes to arrive on Netflix?

Well, we hope Manifesters new and old are reveling in the excitement and anticipation for the new Netflix original series. The streamer doesn’t save just any old canceled series, and it’s clear to see that loyalty and passion from its fans is what makes Manifest so special and worthy of saving.