Surprising Twist: Peacock Axes Season 2 of Pitch Perfect Spinoff Show!

Summary

Peacock has decided to cancel Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin even though it was already renewed for season 2.

Bumper in Berlin became the top-rated comedy premiere for the streamer upon its November 2022 release. However, due to ongoing strikes by actors and writers demanding fair compensation, the production of Bumper in Berlin has experienced significant delays.

Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin season 2 has been officially canceled by Peacock. The spinoff series, featuring the character Bumper Allen (played by Adam Devine) from the Pitch Perfect film franchise, had a successful first season premiere on Peacock in November 2022, leading to its renewal for a second season in January.

According to Deadline, the cancellation of season 2 came as a result of various challenges faced by the production. Pre-production was disrupted by the onset of the writers' strike in May, followed by the actors' strike in July, which involved the cast of Bumper in Berlin. These labor disputes have led to significant delays, putting the show far behind schedule. Rather than keeping the show on hold or negotiating an interim agreement, Peacock made the decision to cancel it altogether.

Is It Possible to Save Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin?

Although Bumper in Berlin experienced initial success on Peacock, it is unlikely to be picked up by another platform. One major obstacle is that the rights to the Pitch Perfect trilogy and its spinoff are still held by NBCUniversal, limiting the potential for other natural platforms. Additionally, no show has ever transitioned from Peacock to NBC, further decreasing the chances. If another network or streamer were interested in acquiring the show, they would need to obtain licensing rights, which could affect potential profits.

Furthermore, the criticism from critics regarding Bumper in Berlin could deter other parties from showing interest. With a mediocre score of 46 out of 100 on Metacritic and a corresponding 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, season 2 may struggle to generate strong demand elsewhere. Compounded by ongoing strikes and resulting development delays, the expensive cost of filming in Europe may also prove to be a hindrance to the series' prospects.

Unfortunately, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin doesn't have any examples of Peacock's canceled IP series being saved. They have already canceled their reboot of Saved by the Bell, Punky Brewster, and MacGruber without any indications of them being renewed elsewhere. There is a possibility that the streaming platform may change their decision if the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) negotiates a deal with the unions in the near future, but that process could still take a considerable amount of time.