The CW has canceled Walker, here's why the network's No. 1 show is ending

The writing was on the wall when news broke that Walker's sets were being dismantled in Austin, TX and the show's crew members were taking other jobs. For those of us that lived through The CW's great show culling in 2022, and learned the Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman sets were being broken down, we knew what this move by the network was signaling. The death knell was being rung and it was only a matter of time before final word was handed down.

That time has now come. Walker has been officially canceled by The CW. If you're hoping that the series is going to be shopped on the chance that it can get picked up by another network or a streamer, I'm sorry to inform you that won't be the case. Jared Padalecki's Instagram post about the cancellation makes this clear.

"Howdy y’all.

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with you.

#Walker will not be airing on #CW for a fifth season.

It’s a tough piece of news to be sure, but we are SO thankful for the #WalkerFamily that has been built, both on set and off.

After four seasons together, we have felt the love and support from the entire #WalkerFamily, and we will be forever grateful.

Too often, we get to be the ones receiving the praise and gratitude and flattery and, all too often, we miss the opportunity to put it back where it belongs…

WITH THE FANS!

In this world, home isn’t a “place”; it’s a relationship.

“Places” can be lost.
“Relationships” can live forever.

Our gratitude and love for the entire #WalkerFamily will live forever.

It has been a unique honor to be a part of the cast and crew (and fandom!) that helped #Walker tell the stories that we told.

I will forever smile on the years I got to spend with the cast and crew and studio and network and fandom that made this all possible.

Til we ride again. 🤠❤️

-jp"

Padalecki's heartfelt message thanking the fans is indicative of the years Walker has been bolstered by its boisterous fandom which is a mix of Supernatural fans, fans of the actor, and newcomers who'd come to love the modern western. They're the reason why the series became the most watched program on The CW in total audience. Now, you might be asking. Why would the network cancel a show that brings in the most viewers? The answer is simple: Money.

Walker was canceled because of its licensing fee

Consistently, the reporting around Walker's fate at The CW centered on its lower than typical licensing fee. Out of the remaining pre-Nexstar era originals, the Padalecki-led drama had the lowest fee, sitting at $500-550K per episode. In order for the series to continue, CBS Studios would have needed the network to raise the fee to at least $1M. That would have made the program financially feasible for the studio but it seems The CW didn't want to increase the fee.

It should be noted that the studio's request was not an exuberant one. The fee at which CW originals operate on is a fraction of what licensing costs for broadcast shows. The network's insistence on low fees, as it continues its journey toward profitability, is why it has become the home of acquisitions, international co-productions, and a bevy of unscripted series that have yet to reach the viewing heights of its previous roster.

However, as can be seen from their 2024-2025 schedule, they do have enough programming to fill out their slate without holding onto the pre-Nexstar originals. We've reached the point in this new era where the old CW is truly headed toward its sunset. Walker will finish its run this summer. Superman and Lois has its last season premiere in the fall.

A decision on All American and All American: Homecoming has yet to be made. However, only the flagship is expected to continue on and even if it does, it could come with a soft reboot where the series pivots to focus on a new cast of characters.

We'll keep you posted as news comes in. Stay tune to Hidden Remote.