Culture

Dead End: Paranormal Park fans in “mourning” after Netflix cancels series

By Sam Damshenas

13th January 2023

Dead End: Paranormal Park has been cancelled, according to creator Hamish Steele.

In a statement posted to social media, Steele revealed that Netflix “don’t want” to move forward with the beloved LGBTQ+ animation series, which aired two seasons last year.

Steele said he’s “held onto this news for a while now”, hoping that he could “reverse” the streamer’s decision: “But sadly, I don’t think that’s possible right now. It’s with a heavy heart that I tell you Dead End is over.”

Although Steele and the team held a writers’ room for a third season with “scripts and designs and outlines ready to go”, Netflix have chosen not to “give these characters the proper ending they deserve”.

“Honestly we were lucky to make it through everything happening in the last few years. And I want to emphasize my gratitude to Netflix for commissioning the show and for giving us the freedom to tell this story,” he wrote.

“We made history together and I couldn’t be prouder of those twenty episodes and every single member of our crew. I want to give a huge thank you to the fans. Your art, cosplay, fic, reactions, TikToks and every interaction with me has been a delight.”

Steele continued to say that he ‘believes’ the story of Dead End: Paranormal Park will continue and reach a satisfying conclusion “some day, some how”. In the meantime, he’s working on a third and final DeadEndia book “which I hope offers some closure”.

Based on Steele’s DeadEndia graphic novels and Cartoon Hangover’s Too Cool! Cartoons web short, Dead End, the series focuses on a group of employees at a theme park slash haunted house, which also happens to be a portal to hell.

Paranormal Park received rave reviews for its queer representation with the inclusion of a trans male lead character, Barney Guttman (Zach Barack), and multiple supporting characters who also identify under the LGBTQ+ umbrella including Norma Khan (Kody Kavitha), Logan “Logs” Nguyen (Kenny Tran) and Badyah “Deathslide” Hassan (Kathreen Khavari).

The series was also commended for its depiction of neurodiversity with Khan.

In his statement, Steele said he will continue to pitch shows “with the same heart as Dead End” and that the best way to support “the show’s potential future” is by pre-ordering the new reprints of the DeadEndia books via this link.

Responding to the show’s cancellation, Coco Peru – who voiced Pauline Phoenix – criticised Netflix “for not doing the right thing” while praising Steele for the diverse line-up of characters and inclusive storylines.

Fans did not respond well to Netflix’s decision.

One viewer wrote, “Beyond the sadness of this announcement, I want to say: thanks so much for delivering such a unique and personal experience that has meant so much to so many people, including a fellow autistic person like myself.”

Another tweeted: “Netflix just cancelled Dead End: Paranormal Park I’m in fucking mourning now.” 

See some of the responses below.