Nautilus Season 2 might not happen at AMC despite its strong viewership: Here’s why

Nautilus Season 2 feels like the natural next step after the thrilling success of its debut on

AMC, yet fans may not get the continuation they're hoping for. Regardless of bringing in record-breaking numbers, the show's complicated history makes renewal for a Season 2 a little bit too tricky.

The reason is simple: AMC didn't originally develop or fund the series, which means carrying it forward would involve money, contracts, and partnerships that aren't easy to lock in.

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Why Nautilus Season 2 is in doubt even with strong AMC ratings

When Nautilus was released in the U.S., it stunned people with just how big its numbers were.

The series, which follows Shazad Latif as Captain Nemo, gave AMC its most-watched premiere since The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. According to Nielsen's Live +3 ratings, the first episode drew 2.6 million viewers, impressive for a show that had already been released overseas.

In fact, it even managed to surpass one of AMC's own Walking Dead spinoffs in opening performance.

Normally, such numbers would guarantee a second season. But the catch is that Nautilus was never meant to be AMC's property. It was originally produced for Disney+, which later pulled the plug on streaming it as part of its large-scale content cuts.

Prime Video came in to license it for the UK, while AMC brought it to the American audience. In other words, AMC is essentially borrowing the show rather than owning it outright.

This makes renewal complicated. For a second season to move forward, AMC would have to invest heavily and possibly share rights with other networks or streamers.

Considering the production's scale with underwater effects, creatures, and elaborate sets, it isn't a cheap series to make. And while fans may be clamoring for Nautilus Season 2, the network might not be ready to shoulder that financial risk on its own.

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The tangled backstory behind Nautilus and why it impacts Season 2

The story of Nautilus behind the scenes is almost as dramatic as the one on screen. Disney commissioned it, funded it, then backed away after the entire season was already completed.

This decision wasn't about quality but about cost-cutting, with Disney confirming in 2023 that it was pulling billions from its 'non-sports' programs. That's how Nautilus ended up being orphaned, with Disney even taking a financial impairment charge on the title.

After Disney dropped it, producers shopped the series around. Spiderwick found a new home at The Roku Channel, while Nautilus was eventually rescued by Prime Video in the UK and AMC in the U.S.

This journey means multiple companies still have stakes in the show. Disney technically retains licensing, Prime Video has UK rights, and AMC only has it for U.S. distribution.

Actor Shazad Latif, who brings Captain Nemo to life, addressed the uncertainty in an interview when asked about Nautilus Season 2. Speaking to the press, he admitted;

"I'm merely an actor. I have no knowledge of these things, but I don't know. I have no idea. I just hope that the audience enjoys it, and you never know."

His words reflect exactly how tangled the renewal question is. Even if AMC wanted more, expired cast contracts, scheduling conflicts, and Disney's role in the rights make it difficult.

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Fans may want Nautilus Season 2, but behind the curtain, the odds are stacked against it.

The show's AMC run was a win, yet it was never an AMC original. Without a clear funding partner and with Disney still holding the keys, the future for a Nautilus Season 2 remains uncertain.

Still, as Captain Nemo himself would probably say, hope is not lost because in television, surprises do happen.

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