cast of That '70s Show. Despite its cast and its connection to a classic comedy show, however, That '90s Show season 3 was canceled by Netflix.

That '90s Show season 2 was split into two parts, and the second part was released on August 22. That '90s Show season 2 part 2 was originally intended to be released on October 24, but the date was moved up. While that does mean that the show's second season finished before the cancelation, the news puts the fate of That '90s Show season 3 into jeopardy. Even though the future of That '90s Show remains complicated, the decision to cancel it was made for one important and simple reason.

That '90s Show Was Canceled By Netflix Due To Low Viewership

As per Deadline's reporting, That '90s Show season 3 was canceled due to low viewership, especially after the highs of season 1. When it premiered, That '90s Show was one of the most-watched shows on Netflix: That '90s Show season 1 had 10.4 million viewing hours in just four days. That '90s Show season 2, however, had far fewer viewers, as it only achieved 1.6 million views in its first week and 1.4 million in its second week. That's a significant drop in viewership, and Netflix likely couldn't justify That '90s Show's budget on an under-performing series, so it was canceled.

How That '90s Show Season 3 Could Still Happen

Though That '90s Show season 3 was canceled, there is still hope that the sitcom could continue. Kurtwood Smith, who plays Red Forman, confirmed via Instagram that That '90s Show is being shopped, meaning the series is being pitched to other companies apart from Netflix. If That '90s Show is picked up by another production company or streaming service, season 3 could still be produced, albeit under new management. There's currently no news about a new company stepping in to produce That '90s Show season 3, and there likely won't be until those companies can assess the show's cost versus its popularity and ability to draw in viewers.

If another company does decide to produce That '90s Show season 3, it could mean a few changes for the show. At the very least, That '90s Show season 3 would be available on a different streaming service aside from Netflix, but the changes could also extend to the creative side as well. When canceled shows are picked up by a new production company, they often change in creative vision, both out of necessity to help regain viewers and simply as a product of being run by new management. While That '90s Show isn't necessarily finished, it could easily be very different.

Sources: Deadline, therealkurtwoodsmith on Instagram