Netflix's new sci-fi series Sense8 has received a passionate reception since its release, spawning a whole legion of fans for the show and getting those who didn't like the series talking also, but despite all that the show still hasn't yet been renewed for a second season.
The Wachowskis work on the show and actively directed parts of every episode, with creator J. Michael Straczynski also very hands-on and so, with a trio of such big names it's extremely surprising that we're yet to hear of a renewal for Sense8.
Speaking to the press at this year's Television Critics Association, Straczynski said: "We're cautiously optimistic, but, ultimately, it's Netflix's call" in relation to a second season. He also added that plans have already been made for season 2, so the show's progress hasn't been impacted by the lack of immediate renewal.
"We are long-game people. We need to know where we're going, where it all pays off and what it means. Season 1 was an origin story, Season 2 has its own particular arc and so on. To spoil that here would not be in the best interests of the surprise we have in mind."
Usually renewing original content early into their runs, Netflix has in the past even renewed a series before they've debuted on the streaming service, with the only other instance of them not doing so being with horror series Hemlock Grove, which was renewed 10 weeks after its first season.
If the show was released traditionally with an episode per week hitting screens, we'd now be nine weeks into a 12 week run of the first season, and so if Netflix have made no announcement about a second season by the end of August, it's likely they've decided to put the series on the shelf entirely.