Peacock’s irreverent black comedyBased on a True Storyreturned for its second season in late 2024, but the series has since been canceled. Created for the small screen by Craig Rosenberg, the show concerns a true-crime-obsessed real estate agent Ava (Kaley Cuoco) who discovers the identity of the notorious serial killer, the “Westside Ripper”, and blackmails the slayer into participating in a podcast about her investigation. Cleverly spoofing the rise in true crime content in recent years,Based on a True Storyfinds a way to make a dark concept uproariously tongue-in-cheek.
Season 2 ofBased on a True Storyupped the ante afterthe shocking conclusion of season 1, and catches up with Nathan (Chris Messina) and Ava several months into parenthood. Overwhelmed with their new lives, Ava begins to suspect that the supposedly reformed Matt (Tom Batemen) is actually behind a series of new murders. All this continues the show’s trend of over-the-top thrills and chills, and naturally, opened the door for even more in season 3. Unfortunately, Peacock has decided to axBased on a Truestory before its third season, and it probably won’t be returning.
Based On A True Story Season 3 Is Canceled
The Comedy Ends After Two Hilarious Seasons
Critics may have been kind to the sophomore outing, but if no one watches, there’s no incentive for the streamer to keep it going.
ThoughBased on a True Storyhad the opportunity to become a long-running series,Peacock decided to cancel the showafter its second season. While it may feel somewhat premature, the writing was on the wall as soon as the sophomore season arrived.Peacock doesn’t release any of its viewership data, but a shrinking audience is the likeliest reasonfor the show’s cancelation. Critics may have been kind to the sophomore outing, but if no one watches, there’s no incentive for the streamer to keep it going.
Based on a True Storyseason 1 premiered in June 2023 while season 2 premiered in November 2024.
Peacock original seriesare typically produced in-house, and that makes aBased on a True Storyrevival quite unlikely. While there has beena trend in recent years to save canceled shows and give them new life on different streaming services or channels, that experiment mostly produced failures. Netflix’s attempt to saveGirls5evadidn’t pan out, nor did the revival ofMinxor the brooding dramaAmerican Rust. Often, a show that fails to gain an audience on one streamer has the same exact problem elsewhere.
Based On A True Story Season 3 Cast Details
Ava, Nathan & The Westside Ripper Would Have Returned
The cast ofBased on a True Storychanged a lot after season 1, but the main quartet remained consistent throughout. As such, there’s no reason to think that the big stars of season 1 and 2 wouldn’t have been back to reprise their roles if season 3 was picked up.Leading the show is Kaley Cuoco as true crime-obsessed new mom, Ava, and she’d be joined by her hapless tennis-playing husband Nathan, played by Chris Messina.
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Likewise, Tom Bateman would probably have been back as the “Westside Ripper” (aka Matt), while Liana Liberato could have returned as Ava’s younger sister, Tory, who is also in a relationship with Matt. Other returns are less certain, and there would probably have been a slew of new characters introduced in the future as well. With Nathan in trouble with the law, that opens the door for a bevy of characters from the legal side of things, especially if they are determined to bring him down for the Westside Ripper’s crimes.
The cast ofBased on a True Storyseason 3 might have included:
Based On A True Story Season 3 Story Details
Was Nathan Going Down For The Westside Ripper’s Crimes?
the Westside Ripper waited until the police arrived to make his great escape, seemingly pinning all of his crimes on Nathan.
Unsurprisingly, the ending ofBased on a True Storyseason 2 was filled with more than one shocking twist. Having sussed out the identity of the Copycat Killer, and nearly being killed by the same, Nathan and Ava were rescued by Matt who claimed he was ready to go straight. Promising to turn himself in, the Westside Ripper waited until the police arrived to make his great escape, seemingly pinning all of his crimes on Nathan. On top of that,Tory texted Ava that she was in danger, and the finale offered no closure on that front.
Season 3 would have revealed what happened to Nathan following his arrest, and his subsequent legal troubles could have constituted up the bulk of the next season.With most of the evidence being somewhat circumstantial, it’s likely that Nathan could get awayif some other twist doesn’t befall the couple. Meanwhile, Tory’s relationship with Matt put her in the crosshairs, especially after he escaped and pinned his crimes on Nathan.Based on a True Storyseason 3 was shaping up to be something special, but now it’s off hte table.
Based on a True Story
Cast
Based on a True Story is a Peacock original crime thriller starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina as a married couple who starts their own True Crime podcast. Ava and Nathan Bartlett are expecting their first child despite marital troubles as their finances continue to plummet, and their decision to hire a charming plumber to install a new toilet leaves them stuck in a true crime story of their own.
