FANS of the martial arts series Warrior have been left heartbroken after one of its stars confirmed that the show will not be returning for a fourth season.
Despite hopes that the series might be revived, actor Joe Taslim recently announced that the third season would be the last.
The critically acclaimed drama originally came to an end last year.
But after Warrior found a new lease on life on Netflix US in 2024, fans became hopeful that it might be renewed for another season.
Netflix previously revived shows such as Gilmore Girls and Manifest after they performed well on the streaming platform, so viewers thought there was a chance for the martial arts show.
However, despite racking up a quarter of a billion viewing hours, Warrior didn’t manage to break into Netflix’s crucial top 10 rankings for an extended period of time.
Joe, who played skilled Chinatown martial artist Li Yong, took to X with the sad news.
He expressed his gratitude for the show’s dedicated fanbase, saying: “So many times, wherever I go, people come to me and say thank you for Warrior. Now I know the true meaning of an actor.
Sadly, he went on to add: “It goes way above entertainment. Season 3 is our last season, we don’t have the chance to continue the story. But still so grateful. Thank You.”
Dedicated viewers expressed their devastation at the finality, with one writing: “‘I’m so sad. One of my favorite shows ever.
“I was hoping we’d still get another season even after it went to Netflix. Thank you for 3 amazing seasons of an amazing show.”
Another called the discontinuation “a travesty”, after labelling Warrior “arguably the best martial arts series ever”.
Warrior was based on a story created by martial arts legend Bruce Lee.
It first aired in 2019 and quickly became a fan favourite for its well choreographed fight scenes and gripping portrayal of life in 19th century San Francisco.
The series followed the experiences of Chinese immigrant Ah Sahm as he became entangled in the dangerous world of organised crime.
It was set against the backdrop of brutal historical gang wars in Chinatown.
The show earned a near perfect 96 per cent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 100 per cent critic rating.
Based on its popularity, it is no wonder audiences are upset that the series will not return for another season – but at least the 30 episodes that do exist are available on Netflix.