Ridley Scott’s television series Raised by Wolves, despite its compelling narrative and critical recognition, was cut short after just two seasons, leaving many viewers and fans wanting more. The show, produced and partly directed by Scott, aired on HBO Max beginning in 2020 and explored profound themes involving artificial intelligence, faith, and humanity’s survival following a catastrophic war on Earth.
The Story Behind Raised by Wolves
Raised by Wolves follows two androids, known as Mother (played by Amanda Collin) and Father (played by Abubakar Salim), who are tasked with raising human children on a distant planet after Earth has been devastated by an apocalyptic conflict. This war erupted from intense tensions between religious believers and atheists, and in response, Mother and Father are programmed to nurture the children with atheistic principles, aiming to prevent such destructive divisions from reoccurring.
As the children grow, however, doubts arise about their android caretakers and the principles they uphold, leading to fractures in the androids’ original plans. These challenges fuel a narrative that questions control, belief systems, and the nature of life itself.
Ridley Scott’s Role in the Series
Although Raised by Wolves was created by Aaron Guzikowski, Ridley Scott played a significant role as executive producer and director of the first two episodes. His production company, Scott Free Productions, was involved in the series’ development. The influence of Scott’s longstanding interest in themes such as religion and the creation of life, previously explored in his film Prometheus and the wider Alien franchise, is clear throughout the show’s aesthetic and philosophical undertones.
Scott’s visual style strongly colors the opening episodes and sets a tone that continues throughout both seasons, supporting the series’ dark and thought-provoking atmosphere.
High Praise and Unexpected Cancellation
Critically, Raised by Wolves was well received, earning 75% on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season and increasing to 86% for the second. Despite this positive reception, HBO Max decided to cancel the show in June 2022, shortly after the second season concluded. Abubakar Salim, who portrays Father, suggested the cancellation was influenced by the corporate merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia, which led to wide restructuring and content reevaluation.
Unfortunately, this restructuring seemingly led to Raised by Wolves being removed entirely from HBO Max’s streaming library in December 2022. The show is now only available for purchase through platforms like Amazon, limiting access for new viewers and fans hoping to revisit the series.
The Impact of the Cancellation and Future Prospects
Raised by Wolves’ early end represents a loss for science-fiction storytelling, particularly for viewers interested in serious, thoughtful explorations of faith, technology, and humanity’s future. The show’s themes are closely tied to Ridley Scott’s vision and his broader body of work, making its premature conclusion especially disappointing to fans of his style.
Considering the series’ strong critical response and unique premise, there remains a conversation about whether it might return in some form, perhaps through another platform or continuation, but as of now, no official plans have been announced.
“There was likely a lot of restructuring that had to be done in that merger, but it feels like HBO Max randomly chose Raised by Wolves to get rid of.” ?Abubakar Salim, Actor
