It’s official: Catherine de Medici’s reign on Starz is over. The network confirmed in October 2024 that The Serpent Queen would end with its second-season finale, aired August 30, 2024. Despite a sterling 100 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes for Season 1 and Samantha Morton’s award-buzzed performance, viewership plateaued in Season 2, and production delays—compounded by the 2023–2024 Hollywood strikes and a sprawling European shoot—pushed costs beyond what Starz’s new leadership was willing to bankroll.
Why Season 3 Never Materialized
- Ratings vs. Cost Curve: According to Nielsen’s streaming top-ten, the show never cracked more than 300 million minutes viewed per week—respectable for a prestige drama, but pricey when each episode reportedly exceeded $8 million to produce.
- Scheduling Bottleneck: Starz’s 2025 slate is already stacked with the Outlander prequel Blood of My Blood, the Power expansion Influence, and the John Wick-adjacent The Continental: Tokyo. Something had to give.
- Creative Crossroads: Showrunner Justin Haythe had mapped a third season set during the War of the Three Henrys—a labyrinthine conflict involving Catherine’s sons, the Guise faction, and the future Henri IV. Delivering that scale would have required larger battle set-pieces and additional location work in France and Italy.
The Spinoff Strategy: Enter Queen Elizabeth I
Starz hasn’t abandoned 16th-century intrigue altogether. Development is under way on a limited series centered on Queen Elizabeth I—introduced in The Serpent Queen Season 2 and played with flinty charisma by Minnie Driver. Unlike the short-lived Becoming Elizabeth, this project jumps straight into Elizabeth’s early reign, setting up:
- The fallout from Mary Stuart’s imprisonment
- Elizabeth’s rivalry with Philip II of Spain and the lead-up to the Spanish Armada
- Court politics featuring William Cecil, Robert Dudley, and the Walsingham spy network
Insiders say the writers’ room is already breaking scripts, with production penciled for early 2026 in Prague and London, leveraging tax incentives that helped The White Queen trilogy keep budgets lean.
What Season 3 Would Have Covered (If It Existed)
- Religious Civil War: Catherine’s desperate bid to keep Catholic and Huguenot factions from tearing France apart after the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
- Anjou in Poland: The show planned to follow Henri of Anjou’s brief stint as King of Poland-Lithuania—an international angle that would have expanded the series’ scope.
- Margot & Navarre: Early drafts teased Marguerite de Valois’ fractious marriage to Henri of Navarre (future Henri IV), setting the stage for France’s Bourbon era.
The Legacy—and Why It Matters
The Serpent Queen carved a niche by telling royal history from a survivor’s perspective. Its feminist lens on realpolitik resonated with viewers tired of sanitized period pieces. Though the main series ends here, Catherine de Medici’s story now feeds a broader Starz “Renaissance-verse” that could see crossovers with the upcoming Elizabeth project—and perhaps revitalize interest in the turbulent decades that shaped modern Europe.
For fans, the throne may have changed hands, but the game of crowns is far from over.
Key Takeaways
- “The Serpent Queen” has been officially canceled after two seasons with no plans for a third season.
- Starz is considering a spinoff series centered on Queen Elizabeth I with Minnie Driver potentially starring.
- The show concluded with its second season finale in August 2024, ending Samantha Morton’s portrayal of Catherine de Medici.
Season 3 Overview
Unfortunately for fans of “The Serpent Queen,” Starz has officially canceled the historical drama after two seasons. The show will not be returning for a third installment, despite previous speculation about continuing Catherine de’ Medici’s story.
Premiere Date and Streaming
There will be no premiere date for “The Serpent Queen” Season 3 as Starz announced the cancellation of the series following its Season 2 finale, which aired in August 2024. The decision came despite some earlier reports suggesting that a third season might be in development.
Viewers can still stream the existing two seasons on the Starz platform. The series, created by Justin Haythe, garnered praise for its modern take on Catherine de’ Medici’s reign in Renaissance France. The first season premiered in September 2022, with the second season following in 2024.
Starz appears to be shifting focus to other historical dramas. According to reports, the network is considering developing a new series about Queen Elizabeth I, which might serve as a spiritual successor to “The Serpent Queen” for viewers interested in powerful female monarchs.
Cast and Characters
The cancellation means fans won’t see Samantha Morton return as the calculating Catherine de’ Medici. Her portrayal of the Renaissance Queen of France earned significant acclaim throughout the show’s run.
The ensemble cast from Season 2 included Minnie Driver as Diane de Poitiers, Catherine’s long-time rival. Other key characters included Catherine’s sons Charles and Anjou, her daughter Margot, and Mary, Queen of Scots.
The series also featured characters like Montmorency, François de Guise, and Ruggieri (Catherine’s astrologer and confidant). Season 2 particularly focused on Catherine’s role as Regent and her complex relationships with her children as they vied for power.
Plot Developments
Season 2 culminated with the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, a significant historical event that showcased Catherine’s ruthless political maneuvering. This violent climax represented a major turning point in her reign and French history.
Had Season 3 moved forward, it would likely have explored the aftermath of the massacre and Catherine’s continued struggles to maintain control over France through her sons. The power dynamics between Catherine and Elizabeth I might have been a central focus, which aligns with Starz’s reported interest in an Elizabeth I series.
Some critics suggested that Season 2 suffered from too many subplots. A potential third season could have benefited from a more streamlined approach, focusing more directly on Catherine’s schemes and political machinations rather than dividing attention across numerous supporting characters.
Production Insights
The cancellation of “The Serpent Queen” after two seasons has left many wondering about the production decisions behind the scenes. Starz’s decision not to proceed with Season 3 marks the end of Samantha Morton’s portrayal of Catherine de Medici.
Creative Vision
Justin Haythe, the creator and showrunner, had established a unique vision for “The Serpent Queen” that blended historical drama with modern sensibilities. The series took creative liberties with historical events while maintaining the core essence of Catherine de Medici’s complex character and political maneuvering.
The show’s distinct visual style and fourth-wall-breaking narration set it apart from other period dramas on Starz. Morton’s portrayal of Catherine evolved significantly from Season 1 to Season 2, showing her transformation from an outsider to a powerful ruler.
Season 2 explored themes of religious conflict and power struggles, particularly through the storyline involving Sister Edith and the rising tensions in France.
Behind the Scenes
Despite critical acclaim for Samantha Morton’s performance, “The Serpent Queen” faced challenges with viewership metrics that ultimately led to its cancellation. Production costs for historical dramas are typically high, requiring elaborate sets, costumes, and large casts.
Reports suggest Starz is considering a spinoff focused on Queen Elizabeth I instead of continuing Catherine’s story. This strategic pivot indicates the network’s interest in exploring other powerful female monarchs while moving away from the French court setting.
The production team faced the challenge of condensing decades of Catherine’s rule into limited episodes. This compression sometimes affected storytelling, as significant historical events were either omitted or condensed.
The price of producing such an elaborate historical drama likely factored into the cancellation decision, especially if streaming numbers didn’t justify continued investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fans of The Serpent Queen have many questions about the show’s future. Here are answers to the most common questions about Season 3 based on current information.
When is the release date for The Serpent Queen Season 3?
Currently, there is no release date for The Serpent Queen Season 3. Starz has not announced any timeline for a potential third season.
The network typically announces new seasons several months before they air. If renewed, Season 3 would likely follow a similar production schedule to previous seasons.
Will The Serpent Queen Season 3 be available on Netflix upon release?
The Serpent Queen Season 3 would not be available on Netflix upon release. The show is a Starz original production.
In the United States, viewers need a Starz subscription to watch new episodes. International distribution varies by region, but Netflix does not currently hold streaming rights for the series.
How many episodes are expected in the third season of The Serpent Queen?
If renewed, The Serpent Queen Season 3 would likely contain eight episodes. This would match the episode count of the previous two seasons.
Starz historical dramas typically maintain consistent episode counts across seasons. However, without official renewal, the episode count remains speculative.
Who are the new cast members joining The Serpent Queen Season 3?
No new cast members have been announced for The Serpent Queen Season 3. Without official renewal, casting information is unavailable.
The previous seasons featured Samantha Morton as Catherine de Medici. Any potential third season would likely continue with established cast members while introducing new historical figures relevant to the timeline.
Has The Serpent Queen been officially renewed for a third season?
The Serpent Queen has not been officially renewed for a third season. According to current information, Starz has not made any announcement about the show’s future.
The second season concluded with potential storylines for continuation. However, the network has remained silent about whether these stories will be explored further.
What led to the cancellation of The Serpent Queen if it will not continue?
If The Serpent Queen does not continue, viewership numbers may be a factor. Historical dramas require significant production budgets, and networks evaluate audience size against costs.
Some reports have quoted, “Sometimes, the best stories are the ones that never get finished,” suggesting an unexpected conclusion to the series. Season 2’s ending did set up potential Elizabeth I storylines, indicating the creators may have hoped for continuation.
