Apple cancels 'Shantaram' after a single season

Apple has canceled the drama series "Shantaram" on Apple TV+, and the season one finale premieres on December 16.

"Shantaram" tells the story of Lin Ford (played by Charlie Hunnam), a former bank robber who moves to Bombay and tries to reinvent himself. It's based on the best-selling book by Gregory David Roberts, which has sold over six million copies.

The series halted production in 2020 when former showrunner Eric Warren Singer departed the project. It then saw multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the typhoon season.

It's unclear why Apple has canceled the show. Deadline reports that it hasn't been as popular as other content on Apple TV+.

Along with Hunnam, the series starred Shubham Saraf, Elektra Kilbey, Fayssal Bazzi, Luke Pasqualino, Alyy Khan, Sujaya Dasgupta, Vincent Perez, David Field, Alexander Siddig, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, Elham Ehsas, Rachel Kamath, Matthew Joseph, and Shiv Palekar.

Showrunner Steve Lightfoot wrote the series and served as executive producer alongside Bharat Nalluri. Other executive producers include Andrea Barron, Nicole Clemens, Steve Golin, Justin Kurzel, and Eric Warren Singer, who co-created the series with Lightfoot.

Paramount Television produced the series for Apple with Anonymous Content's AC Studios.

"Shantaram" joins other nixed Apple TV+ content, such as "Little Voice" which was also cancelled after one season in 2021. A songwriting drama produced by J.J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles, that series told the story of a musician navigating the New York City music scene while coping with life.

23 Comments

danox 11 Years · 3442 comments

About 2 years ago

JP234 said:

I watched 3 or 4 episodes before completely losing interest. Can't speak for anyone else, but I've seen this plot countless times, and there's absolutely nothing new or original to see here. Apple TV's content has been compelling and innovative in the main, but there are exceptions such as Shantaram, Servant, Mosquito Coast, and Loot, to name just a few. There are others, such as See, which have an original premise, but then after that has been mined, descend into mindless violence, sex and profanity, or puerile humor more suited to the butt, butt, boob, poop, poop audience that finds that kind of thing funny.

Overall, though there are some fails, Apple does a far better job moderating content than Prime, Netflix, Disney+ or even HBO Max. Much smaller pile of crap to wade through to find quality programming.

No British, Australian, Korean, American PBS or Nordic shows equals fail.

Petersen 2 Years · 2 comments

About 2 years ago

I think it's great. Every episode was interesting and exciting and I also enjoyed it took place in India, a place I don't recall ever getting much attention. This is really too bad... maybe the show wasn't woke enough for apple ???

Petersen 2 Years · 2 comments

About 2 years ago

JP234 said:

I watched 3 or 4 episodes before completely losing interest. Can't speak for anyone else, but I've seen this plot countless times, and there's absolutely nothing new or original to see here. Apple TV's content has been compelling and innovative in the main, but there are exceptions such as Shantaram, Servant, Mosquito Coast, and Loot, to name just a few. There are others, such as See, which have an original premise, but then after that has been mined, descend into mindless violence, sex and profanity, or puerile humor more suited to the butt, butt, boob, poop, poop audience that finds that kind of thing funny.

Overall, though there are some fails, Apple does a far better job moderating content than Prime, Netflix, Disney+ or even HBO Max. Much smaller pile of crap to wade through to find quality programming.

JP234 said:

I watched 3 or 4 episodes before completely losing interest. Can't speak for anyone else, but I've seen this plot countless times, and there's absolutely nothing new or original to see here. Apple TV's content has been compelling and innovative in the main, but there are exceptions such as Shantaram, Servant, Mosquito Coast, and Loot, to name just a few. There are others, such as See, which have an original premise, but then after that has been mined, descend into mindless violence, sex and profanity, or puerile humor more suited to the butt, butt, boob, poop, poop audience that finds that kind of thing funny.

Overall, though there are some fails, Apple does a far better job moderating content than Prime, Netflix, Disney+ or even HBO Max. Much smaller pile of crap to wade through to find quality programming.

ALL plots have been in one way or they other rehashed. Tell me 4 shows with this same plot then? And 4 shows you feel are totally new and original.

george kaplan 16 Years · 169 comments

About 2 years ago

I understand the fact this has a cursed birth, between weather delays and the pandemic, but the time spent was worth it. I watched what I assumed to be the season finale last night and was looking forward to the next season of shows.

It is true the first few shows were a lot of tough exposition, with a Les Miserables-type plot overlaid in a foreign culture which required much explanation. But the depiction of the Sagar Wada slums and the gangster subculture made for an interesting framework of storytelling. And Charlie Hunnam was effortlessly charming and heroic as the prison escapee on the run.

I’m really sorry there won’t be an opportunity to continue the story.

mjpbuy 3 Years · 22 comments

About 2 years ago

I too are sorry that it has not been renewed. I found it interesting with plenty of good plot twists, human conflicts, self refection of the main character and intertwine of culture differences.
I think it was one of the better Apple TV originals.