Into the Badlands season 4 should’ve carried fans into an even bigger and better world, but the show has unfortunately been cancelled.

Did you catch Into the Badlands season 3, episode 16, “Seven Strike as One”? If so, then you know it was an epic conclusion to an incredible show. While I loved every moment of the finale, I can’t help my frustration over how this show was cancelled ahead of what would have been an even more spectacular Into the Badlands season 4.

In the finale, we saw both The Widow and Sunny regain their powers. Tilda was seriously injured while both MK and Pilgrim died. Cressida escaped on a boat before Moon could do her in, and we learned of an even larger threat about to come to the Badlands—guns.

What is ‘Into the Badlands’ season 4’s release date?

AMC announced in early 2019 that Into the Badlands season 4 has been canceled, so at this time, there is no air date. The news arrived after quite a long social media silence from the official Into the Badlands accounts. The good news is that if you need another drama like this one, you can check out our review of Wu Assassins.

‘Into the Badlands’ cancelled

Here are some reactions to the cancellation from the series’ cast and crew:

What could ‘Into the Badlands’ season 4’s plot have looked like?

As of right now, there are currently no plans to air Into the Badlands season 4 on AMC or another network. Executive Producers Al Gough, Miles Millar, and Daniel Wu hinted at wanting an Into the Badlands movie or graphic novel if they couldn’t get further episodes, but so far nothing has been confirmed.

This is especially disheartening because Into the Badlands season 4 could’ve changed everything.

The creative minds behind Into the Badlands have managed to do what not all shows can—keep their series interesting. Season 1 introduced a formidable villain in Quinn, while season 2 somehow made him even more terrifying. Season 3 brought us Pilgrim, and opened up the world further than we had ever seen it before.

Now, Into the Badlands season 4 would be introducing several new elements to the show.

For two of our heroes to regain their Gift, knowing what destruction it could wreak on their minds, means they possibly pose a massive risk to their loved ones and the world at large. We just spent the last season learning that very few can truly learn to control the Gift, and if it is used improperly, it could be devastating.

The Widow, for one, has been searching for her Gift since season 1. After facing her inner demons, however, she came to the conclusion that maybe she shouldn’t have that sort of power after all. She had started to lose sight of her true goal of saving the Badlands, and she knew her power wouldn’t make it any easier to stay on task.

When her power reactivates thanks to her anger over Tilda’s supposed death, several questions are raised. Will she still go down the same dark path the Master foretold, or will she have more of a handle on it now that she has a better understanding of herself? How will the Gift affect her baby, as well as her relationships with Gaius and Tilda? Will her followers still want her to lead them, knowing she’s a Dark One?

Sunny has an equally complicated path ahead of him. He doesn’t remember having his power as a child and has seen firsthand the kind of destruction it is capable of. Will he still be able to care for Henry? Will his friends, especially Bajie, stick by his side? Will he be able to control the power in him better than Pilgrim or MK?

I think the most important lesson The Widow has learned is that she can’t handle power. She’s gotten to the point where she has truly set aside her own ambitions in order to protect the people she’s made promises to, and even though she might struggle, I truly believe she’d be able to handle the Dark One power inside her.

Sunny, with his golden eyes, may struggle less than the others. He has a violent history, but he’s also looked himself in the mirror and decided to be a better person. There’s no way he would ever hurt Henry, and knowing what he’s capable of will push him to be even more diligent about controlling his strength.

Tilda’s near death doesn’t have me too concerned. They would’ve killed her in this episode if they really wanted her dead, and there’s a chance The Widow’s powers could be put to the test sooner rather than later. If the healer back at camp can’t fix Tilda, maybe Minerva can, just like she’s seen The Master do a hundred times over.

MK’s death is tragic but not unexpected. Pilgrim’s ending was fitting and leaves space for someone else to take his place with hope of conquering the Badlands. It’s Cressida’s escape that has me most interested in what could happen during a possible Into the Badlands season 4, as she’s got enough power, experience, and intelligence to find someone else’s strings to pull.

But all of this pales in comparison to what Eli finds at the end of the episode. In the place where the meridian chamber once stood, buried long ago and now covered in mud, is a gun.

We know from the history of the Badlands that guns existed during our time, but that they were eventually outlawed and society reverted back to swords and bows so people could defend themselves.

I’ve seen fans wondering if we’d ever get the introduction of guns on the show, and if I’m being honest, I’ve always shied away from this possibility. I love Into the Badlands‘ aesthetic and it would be a shame to see that challenged by a weapon which would so clearly dominate what we have grown accustomed to.

That being said, we’re hanging on by our fingertips here. I want, so badly, for this series to get renewed in one form or another. Introducing guns is a bold statement that would once again change the dynamics of this show. Where each season has grown larger and shown us more of this world and its history, Into the Badlands season 4 and the introduction of firearms would continue that tradition in such an interesting and complex way.

Guns are, without a doubt, a talking point in this day and age. Into the Badlands has already showed us it’s willing to make political statements, and I’m curious to see how the show and our favorite characters would handle this new wrench in the system.

More than ever before, I want to #SaveTheBadlands. We’ve already talked at length on Hypable about why Into the Badlands is such an incredible show, and I think anyone who watches even just a few episodes can understand why this series has gained such a devoted following.

Is there hope for a future in the Badlands?

It’s been two years since Into the Badlands was cancelled, and we’ve still not heard a peep about what might be in store for Into the Badlands’ future.

In a world of revivals, reboots, and remakes, there’s always hope. As previously stated, the creators have talked of making a movie as well as creating a graphic novel to continue the adventure. Time is a factor to an extent, as we need to take both the actors and the audience into consideration—are they still around, and are they still interested?

Daniel Wu has said “never say never” in the past and has looked back fondly on his time on the show. It’s unlikely that a streaming service like Netflix would pick up the show, which was quite expensive, but getting the team back together for a one-off movie might be plausible.

And while a graphic novel wouldn’t be the same as a revival of the show, it would at least allow us to spend more time with these beloved characters and keep them alive in our minds. If enough people
flock to a graphic novel and demand a movie adaptation of what may have once been Into the Badlands season 4, it could happen.

(P.S. On the plus side, there is a digital Into the Badlands graphic novel that acts as a prequel to the series.)

Into the Badlands is absolutely that kind of high-quality niche show that could gain a larger audience and a bigger life well after the series has ended. Like Wu, I’ll never say never to the possibility that it could happen, but for now, it seems as though it’s not the right time.

I, for one, will be sticking around until it is. At least we can rewatch the show to our heart’s content on Netflix.

Are you upset ‘Into the Badlands’ season 4 won’t be happening?

This article was originally written in May 2019 and updated on June 15, 2021.