Netflix Picks Up ABC’s Canceled ‘Designated Survivor’ For Season 3

Netflix has yet again saved the day—for one of this year’s canceled shows, that is. ABC’s Designated Survivor, which was canceled last May, will be revived at the streaming service as one of its original series.

But in line with finding a new home for the series comes another drastic change. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Under the Dome and ER‘s Neal Baer will take over showrunner duties from Keith Eisner. Entertainment One, Designated Survivor’s production company, will still produce the show along with Netflix, meaning it will now fall under their original series banner.

“Timely and gripping, Designated Survivor has quickened the pulses of our Netflix members outside the U.S. and Canada in its first two seasons,” Netflix Vice President for Content Bela Bajaria said. “The international audience for the show drove our interest to bring the show to the world as a Netflix original for its third season, and we are excited to bring the first two seasons to our U.S. and Canadian members as well.”

Ben Mark Holzberg/ABC

Designated Survivor season 3 will consist of 10 episodes, and will also focus on President Tom Kirkman’s (Kiefer Sutherland) campaign for re-election. In the season 2 finale, Kirkman was seemingly on the brink of losing his post as President of the United States. But there was something about what Attorney Ethan West (Michael J. Fox) said that made Kirkman change his mind and ultimately decide to run for office against former President and Secretary of State Cornelius Moss (Geoff Pierson). The third season will also see Kirkman “exploring today’s world of campaigning, smear tactics, debate, campaign finance, and ‘fake news.'”

With Netflix’s distinct touch on its vast catalog of original series, it’s good to see a new political show taking over the helm that will be left vacant by the now-Robin Wright-led House of Cards once it premieres its final season. ABC will no longer be involved in the show’s overall production, so we can look forward to a change in cinematography, story, and depth.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play President Kirkman for season three of Designated Survivor with Netflix, eOne and Neal Baer,” Sutherland said. “I believe this format will allow us to continue to delve deeply into storylines and issues concerning the American electorate that were not previously possible.”

Designated Survivor Season 3 will premiere sometime in 2019.