Warrior Nun fans were jubilant after learning via Twitter that the beloved Netflix series had been “saved” after getting the axe. Warrior Nun creator Simon Barry wrote, “Today I’m happy to officially report that because of your combined voices, passion and amazing efforts — #WarriorNun will return and is going to be more EPIC than you could imagine.” Many fans immediately imagined that their hard work campaigning on behalf of the Alba Bapista show had worn Netflix down. However Decider can confirm that while Warrior Nun might have been “saved,” it will not be returning to Netflix in any shape or form.
Barry’s cryptic tweet seems to only confirm that the series is being shopped elsewhere and it’s still unclear if the fandom’s celebrations are even warranted at this point. TV Line‘s Matt Webb Mitovich reports that “no deals are in place” but simply that “discussions are indeed underway to revive the series via a standalone movie or a shortened final season.” TV Line also confirms Decider’s reporting that Netflix is not involved in any of these talks, deals or negotiations.
Simon Barry wasn’t the only Warrior Nun writer or producer who shared the good news with fans today. Warrior Nun writer and producer Amy Berg tweeted that “this is real. Simon wasn’t hacked,” before going on to credit the fan’s for bringing the show back from the brink.
“YOU DID THIS. Congratulations to all #WarriorNun fans across the globe. Never have I seen a more organized community. The word “fandom” doesn’t remotely cover it,” Berg tweeted.
Warrior Nun fans have been so devoted to bringing the show back that they literally rented a billboard outside Netflix’s Los Angeles headquarters to stump for Season 3. Clearly Netflix wasn’t moved, but perhaps a rival party?
Warrior Nun premiered on Netflix during the summer of 2020 and was a refreshing, exciting pandemic binge full of Catholic-inspired lore and a star-making performance from Alba Baptista. Netflix cancelled the series in December 2022, just one month after its critically-acclaimed Season 2 debut. The second season became a particular fan favorite thanks in huge part to the romance between Baptista’s lead character Ava and Beatrice (Kristina Tonteri-Young). Ironically, it’s been since revealed that the writers had to hide the romance from Netflix, by cutting it out of the scripts, to make it happen.
Warrior Nun writer David Hayter recently said in an interview at the OSC Conclave 2023, “[W]hen Avatrice [Ava and Beatrice] became the prime sort of shipping object, it just felt right that that was something we would pursue. But our executive at Netflix was uncomfortable with sex on any level, and was like, ‘No…we’re not going to do this Avatrice thing.’ And Simon Barry and I were like, ‘Yeah we are!’”
The Warrior Nun team has a habit of making fans’ dreams come true without Netflix’s involvement. So maybe they are on the precipice of pulling off the miraculous and resurrecting Warrior Nun at a rival streamer or station.