Karl Urban’s Canceled 2013 Sci-Fi Series: A Potential Rival to The Boys Cut Short After One Season

In 2013, actor Karl Urban, widely recognized for his diverse roles in iconic franchises, headlined the sci-fi television series Almost Human. Despite its promising premise and Urban’s compelling performance, the show only aired for a single season. Today, Urban’s impressive career also features notable characters such as Judge Dredd, Dr. Leonard “Bones”McCoy in the Star Trek reboot series, Éomer in The Lord of the Rings, and most recently, Billy Butcher in The Boys. His portrayal of Butcher has undoubtedly elevated his star status, making him a beloved figure in the realm of television.

Urban’s role in Almost Human had the potential to solidify his standing as a television staple years earlier; however, the show’s fleeting existence prevented this from happening. Typically, when a series fails as spectacularly as Almost Human did, the reasoning is apparent—poor reviews, lack of chemistry among the cast, or an unoriginal plot. However, Almost Human faced none of these common pitfalls, yet it still met a premature end.

Why Karl Urban’s Almost Human Had the Ingredients to Become a Sci-Fi Hit

A Unique Sci-Fi Twist on the Classic Buddy Cop Formula

Set in the year 2048, Almost Human unfolds in a dystopian world where the rapid evolution of science and technology has resulted in a staggering increase in crime rates—upward of 400%.To counteract this unsettling trend, law enforcement introduces a groundbreaking policy requiring human officers to partner with combat-model androids. Urban’s character, Detective John Kennex, embodies the archetype of a rugged detective harboring disdain for these androids, primarily due to a past incident where an android contributed to the death of his partner. His new partner, Dorian, played by Michael Ealy, serves as a cyborg with unique characteristics.

The dynamic of mismatched detectives is a time-honored trope, and the show’s premise ingeniously exploits this by pitting a human cop who loathes robots against a robotic partner. This setup opens the door to engaging explorations of artificial intelligence and self-identity themes.

With J. J.Abrams as executive producer, Almost Human had the backing of a highly acclaimed creator in the television industry. Unfortunately, even with such a strong foundation, Fox decided to cancel the series after just one season.

The Reasons Behind the Series’ Early Cancellation

Low Ratings and High Production Costs Led to Its Untimely End

On April 29, 2014, Fox officially pulled the plug on Almost Human, attributing the decision to a combination of lackluster viewer ratings and exorbitant production expenses. Crafting a futuristic series centered around androids is inherently expensive, meaning the show required a broad audience to sustain its financial viability. In essence, it needed to achieve ratings comparable to long-running shows like CSI for a second season renewal. Additionally, the network’s fall schedule was already overcrowded, making it difficult for Almost Human to be accommodated.

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