Netflix has picked up another canceled TV show, this time reviving “Designated Survivor” for a third season.
The drama, which stars Kiefer Sutherland, will return for a 10-episode third season with its fifth different showrunner in “ER” and “Law & Order” vet Neal Baer.
Netflix had been talks with eOne, which produces the show, since it was canceled by ABC back in May. The political thriller was one of many broadcast TV shows to get the ax this spring during the pre-upfronts bloodbath.
The drama stars Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the US Capitol during the State of the Union. Kirkman struggles to keep the country and his own family from falling apart, while navigating the highly-volatile political arena and while leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack.
In the third season, President Kirkman (Sutherland) will face a political reality… campaigning. What does it take to make a leader? What price will he be willing to pay? This season will explore today’s world of campaigning, smear tactics, debates, campaign finance and “fake news.” Democracy, as we know it, will hang in the balance.
Season three will go into production later this year for a 2019 launch. The first two seasons come to Netflix this fall.
“The continuation of the show via Netflix is a win-win for all involved,” said executive producer Mark Gordon. “The story of President Kirkman and those around him has not been fully told and we look forward to working with our new partner in continuing the show for a global audience.”
The cast also includes Kal Penn, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci and Maggie Q. The series was created by David Guggenheim, with Gordon, Sutherland, Suzan Bymel, Simon Kinberg, Aditya Sood and Peter Noah as executive producers.