The showrunner for Warrior Nun has opened up about the series’ scrapped third season.
In 2022, the popular Netflix show was cancelled after two critically acclaimed seasons, sparking outrage from fans.
Based on Ben Dunn’s comic book Warrior Nun Areala, the series follows 19-year-old Ava Silva (Alba Baptista), who wakes up in a morgue with supernatural abilities and discovers that she must battle demons on Earth.
After various fan-led campaigns, including a high-profile change.org petition, it was announced in June 2022 that Warrior Nun had been saved, with director and showrunner Simon Barry confirming that it will make an “epic” return.
Then, on 15 August, executive producer Dean English revealed that three feature films were commissioned to continue the titular character’s story.
Unfortunately, the fandom took an unexpected hit in October 2023 when Barry announced that he would not be involved in the films.
“I am not part of the team producing the movies, and have no deal in place for any writing or directing services,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
While his time with Warrior Nun has ended, the beloved creative recently treated fans to new details about the show’s cancelled third season.
During a recent interview with The OSC Newsletter, Barry revealed that Ava would have had a darker storyline due to her sacrifice in season two.
“The arc of her character from season 1 to season 2 is really one of self-sacrifice… she gives up this fantasy of being reborn and having a life, and decides that it’s better that she sacrifices herself for her friends and the people she cares about,” he explained.
“So in season 3, I really wanted to kind of flip the script a little bit and have Ava’s return be… she’s the villain in a way. Not in a deliberate way, but that she comes back changed by Reya. And Reya basically is using her as a weapon to execute a plan.”
While Barry didn’t get into the specifics, he did tease that Beatrice would have played a crucial role in saving Ava from her evil trajectory.
“Only Beatrice can snap Ava out of this place she is… this reverie or this mindset that she is part of,” he continued.
“Beatrice has to save her in this emotional, psychic, loving way to prevent her from just self-destructing, essentially. But Ava was gonna be the bad guy.”
Shortly after the release of Barry’s interview, fans took to social media to express their disappointment over Netflix scrapping the show’s third season.
One viewer on X wrote: “Season 3 of Warrior Nun could’ve been the best season yet. @netflix why!?”
Another fan echoed similar sentiments, writing: WE WERE GOING TO HAVE VILLAN AVA AND ONLY BEA COULD SNAP HER OUT OF IT?! PLEASE NETLFIX WHAT THE FUCK.”
A third person added: “Villain Ava would have been like when Waverly Earp got possessed, and the fact we got robbed of warrior nun season 3 where we could be seeing Bea save Ava from the evil is absurd, actually.”
Before its sudden cancellation, critics praised Warrior Nun for its writing, acting and action sequences. It also gained a passionate following due to its LGBTQIA+ representation and the blossoming relationship between Ava and Sister Beatrice (Kristina Tonteri-Young).
Watch Barry’s full OSC Newsletter interview below.
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