Why Jason Bourne TV Show Treadstone Season 2 Was Canceled

Treadstone season 2 is no longer happening after confirmation that USA Network’s Jason Bourne spinoff series has been canceled after just one season. There are a couple of main reasons behind this somewhat surprising decision, which chiefly stem from the show’s ratings, and the channel’s overall shift towards a different kind of programming. These two factors spelled a death knell for Treadstone, which unsuccessfully tried to pour the international espionage-based thrills of the Bourne franchise into an episodic series.

Based on the Jason Bourne films (which in turn are based on the books by author Robert Ludlum), Treadstone season 1 is set in two different time periods. A 1973 storyline follows the character John Randolph Bentley (Jeremy Irvine), a CIA Operative who was captured by the KGB and put through a brainwashing program that programmed him to carry out assassinations and other missions for the Soviets. In the present-day storyline, a group of operatives who were turned into sleeper agents by the CIA’s own behavior modification program, Treadstone, begin to awaken. Here’s why Treadstone season 2 was canceled, and what the second installment’s story might have been.

Related: Treadstone Retcons Jason Bourne’s Origin After Only Two Episodes

Was Treadstone Canceled? Yes, And Here’s Why

USA Network’s cancelation of Treadstone season 2 was reported alongside the channel’s cancelation of the horror spinoff series The Purge. These announcements form part of a move away from scripted programming and towards live and unscripted programming, such as WWE Raw. Regarding scripted content, USA has stated it will be focusing on event series rather than long-running shows in line with its viewership data, which the Network states is compelling. Treadstone‘s Jason Bourne-less premiere episode attracted 645,000 live viewers and had pulled in a total of 1.84 million through delayed viewing by the following week. However, ratings had declined to just 371,000 live viewers by the season finale, and Treadstone attracted mixed reviews, both of which were key factors in USA’s decision to cancel the show.

What Treadstone Season 2’s Story Could’ve Been

Treadstone season 1 ends by merging its two key storylines, as an older Bentley is confronted by his former captor and lover, Petra Andropov (Gabrielle Scharnitzky) who wants his help to bring down Treadstone. Treadstone season 2 would likely have continued the 1970s storyline and shown the origins of Treadstone, which was modeled after the notorious KGB program Cicada. Meanwhile, in present-day, awakened cicada Treadstone Agent SoYun (Han Hyo-joo) discovers that her family allowed her son to be sent off to the same facility where she was once turned into an asset. It also seemed that Ellen Becker (Michelle Forbes) was set to take over Treadstone and its assets. Much of Treadstone‘s season 1 finale was spent setting things up for Treadstone season 2 rather than wrapping up plot threads, so it’s unfortunate for fans that the story will definitively end there.

Treadstone Was A Victim Of Streaming Dominating Cable

The advent of streaming services changed the cable television landscape permanently, and Treadstone season 2 fell victim to this shift. The USA Network, which once housed Treadstone, went through a lot of changes around 2016 and into the pandemic, thanks to services like Netflix and Hulu slowly taking over the game. Once the pandemic hit, it was clear that streaming services now ruled the roost when it came to television programming, and a lot of cable networks had to turn over their shows or risk being left behind.

It was during 2020 that the USA Network underwent a massive change, prompting the cancelation of Treadstone. During the growth of streaming services, USA was forced to cut back on many of its scripted programming in favor of reality TV and live programming, such as WWE events and sports. Along with Treadstone season 2, USA was forced to also cut Dare Me, The Purge, and Sinner from their lineup. Had Treadstone been released before the era of Netflix and Peacock, it’s quite possible that the series could’ve run for a long time.

Related: Every Martial Art Style Jason Bourne Uses In The Bourne Movies

Where Does The Bourne Franchise Go From Here?

Even though Treadstone season 2 got the ax, it doesn’t mean that the Bourne franchise is completely over. In fact, there’s always the possibility that Jason Bourne 6 could hit the big screen. The Matt Damon-led franchise has achieved ample success over the years, with 3 Academy Awards gracing The Bourne Ultimatum (Matt Damon’s script issues aside). Action franchises like John Wick and The Matrix are getting the sequel and reboot treatment, with stars that have been in the biz for decades like Keanu Reeves reassuming their original roles after years away.

However, original director Paul Greengrass has stated that his time with the franchise is over, and Damon only wanted to work on Greengrass-led Bourne projects. While many think that the cancelation of Treadstone sends out a death knell for the Bourne franchise, it doesn’t preclude Matt Damon from returning to make another Bourne movie (despite Jeremy Renner being the lead in the often-derided follow-up The Bourne Legacy) – but he may not want to. Ultimately, the franchise could continue despite Treadstone‘s failure, but it’s dependent on crucial factors that don’t seem to be in place for the Bourne movies’ survival.

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