Summary

• Financial concerns led to the cancellation of "Walker" by The CW due to budget cuts and low license fees.
• Despite initial success and high viewership, the show struggled with profitability and budget constraints.
• A potential spinoff or sequel series for "Walker" could be a possibility once The CW navigates its current changes.

After four seasons, The CW is putting an end to its Western remake, Walker is a remake of Walker, Texas Ranger, a 1990s Western drama. It premiered on The CW three years ago, with Supernatural's Jared Padalecki as its star. In the series, a man named Cordell Walker returns home after two years away, working for Texas' most elite crime unit. Upon his homecoming, Walker must finally reconnect with his two children, and face the crime happening right in his hometown.

Despite rather lackluster reviews, Walker had an impressive viewership when it first premiered in 2021. The pilot of Walker broke the record for most-watched telecast at The CW since January 2018. It was also the most-watched season premiere since The Flash season 4. These auspicious beginnings led to continued success, as Walker was quickly renewed for a second season a month after its release, and again for a third season a few months after season 2's premiere. However, it cannot be ignored that Walker's viewership declined after four seasons, and other big hurdles began to get in the show's way.

The CW Canceled Walker Due To Financial & Budget Concerns

Nexstar's acquisition means major budget cuts

The Walker because of budget cuts. In 2022, Nexstar acquired The CW with the intention of making the network more profitable. In order to do this, being cost conscious is heavy on Nexstar's mind, and therefore, they cut series from The CW's fall lineup that were no longer bringing in the right amount of money. Walker was one of these. According to the Hollywood Reporter, The CW is better able to profit on series where the network owns all the rights and can benefit from streaming, whereas legacy shows like Walker are harder to do this with.

Unfortunately, prior to canceling Walker, The CW's president of entertainment, Brad Schwartz, had a rather optimistic outlook on the fate of Walker.

When asked about whether the show's financials made it feasible to continue, Schwartz said, "That is a show that CBS [Studios] does very well with internationally and sells around the world really well." He went on to explain how other factors could lead to higher profits, however the show ended up being canceled anyway. In this way, it seems like The CW is facing some very serious cuts that have put all its scripted series on the line.

Walker's License Fee Problem Explained (& How It Affected The CW's Decision)

Walker's license fee was too small to continue

In another article about The CW's budget cuts, released by Deadline, it was explained that another huge factor when it came to Nexstar slimming down the network's spending was license fees. Previously, The CW had been spending over $1 million on each episode of its four flagship TV series: Walker, All American, All American: Homecoming, and Superman and Lois. Nexstar hoped to bring those fees down to $1 million, however they seemed to bring it even lower. In fact, the license fees of Walker have become so low, around $500,000 per episode, that it put the show at risk.

Ultimately, Walker's low license fee likely played a role in getting the show canceled. Although it has the highest viewership of any CW scripted series, it suffers financially from being filmed in the U.S. and its low license fee. According to Deadline, the show would have to look into international co-production in order to continue, but even then, part of its budget would have to be sacrificed, taking away the quality of the show and making it less desirable for international acquisition. Overall, Walker was in a tough spot, despite its successes, and unfortunately, the financial side won out.

A Walker prequel, Walker: Independence was also recently canceled by The CW.

Could Walker Continue With A Spinoff Or Sequel Series?

Walker may not be entirely finished

Although Walker has been canceled, that does mean that the series is completely off the table. The CW is going through massive changes with Nexstar right now, and perhaps once these difficulties have settled, a Walker spinoff or sequel could materialize. In reality, Walker is one of The CW's most popular properties, despite its money troubles, and if the network eventually finds balance with its newfound sports and game show acquistions, then Walker could make its return with a better financial plan in place. Therefore, Walker may be canceled, but hopefully, it is not the end of the line.