Netflix's gritty Western series American Primeval's ending, only a few characters remain standing, but this violence has not stopped audiences from wanting more.

American Primeval's reviews differed between critics and audiences, but on the whole the series was a huge hit with audiences. While critics felt that the show's violence took time away from character development, audiences were hooked by American Primeval's fictionalized take on real people and events and that it did not shy away from the violence of American history. American Primeval was intended to last for just one season, but it ultimately did so well that many people are hopeful for more, and the showrunner's most recent update makes that seem likely.

Peter Berg Is Confident About American Primeval Season 2

The Showrunner Is Already Planning For A Continuation

In a recent interview with Esquire, American Primeval's showrunner, Peter Berg, discussed the great success of the series and the potential for it to grow in the future. Despite the show's story being told completely throughout its six episodes, Berg shared that "fans are calling for season 2" despite the difficulties that it might create. Given that American Primeval ended with the majority of its characters dead, another season would certainly have to take a different approach, but Berg hinted that the obstacle would not hold the team back. Read Berg's quote below:

Fans are calling for season 2, and at the same time they’re saying, ‘Well, how could you possibly do a season 2, because everybody’s dead?’ And if you wait a year to do season 2, those kids that survive are going to all go through puberty and be unrecognizable. So we’re figuring that out now. But we definitely want to do a season 2.

Though American Primeval has not received an official renewal from Netflix yet, it is a very good sign that the creator himself is confident in the show's future. There will certainly need to be some changes, but given how successful the series ended up being, but American Primeval season 2 is beginning to seem like a real possibility.

Viewing Data Shows How Popular American Primeval Was For Netflix

It Is One Of The Biggest Hits Of 2025 So Far

Beyond Peter Berg's continued belief in and of the series, American Primeval's popularity is backed up by real data. According to recent data from Nielsen, American Primeval is the 12th most-viewed series across any platform for 2024-2025. After just 35 days, American Primeval had amassed 13.8 million viewers, showing that it was certainly not slacking when it comes to audience attention. Netflix, more generally, was the biggest winner overall, holding 10 of the top 20 spots.

Given just how many shows Netflix and other streaming services release in a year, being in the top 20 is an impressive feat. Subtract shows from other streaming services, and American Primeval moves up to seventh in Netflix's roster. Ranking seventh in the dozens of shows that Netflix releases each year is a great marker for just how much audiences enjoyed American Primeval. Though the Western genre may still be dominated by Taylor Sheridan's shows, American Primeval proved that audiences were willing to go for something even grittier.

American Primeval Season 2 Makes A Lot Of Sense, Despite Story Issues

The Show May Need To Pivot, But Season 2 Is Possible

American Primeval centered on several different groups, including the Mormons, the Army, Sara and Isaac, and the Shoshone Indigenous group, but by the end of the series, only a few remained alive. In particular, fan-favorite character Isaac died protecting Sara, leaving her, Devin, and Two Moons to travel to California on their own. This raises problems as the series is left with few people to follow and, as Berg noted, the younger characters "that survive are going to all go through puberty and be unrecognizable" (via Esquire).

As a result, it could be difficult to keep the series going with the same characters, but there are still a few ways to make American Primeval season 2 work. American history is very rich and there are a lot of other events that season 2 could focus on, weaving fictional and real characters together. Alternatively, Berg has hinted at a spinoff focusing on Isaac Reed that could serve as a prequel to the series. Whatever form the season may take, Berg's new comments make it even more clear that American Primeval may not be over yet.

Source: Esquire