Designated Survivor is a Netflix series that takes us into the world of politics, between suspense, action, and drama. The fiction is developing towards the political problems of an inflexible system. It is impossible not to get hooked on the attractive plot that the series presents. So, if like us you have loved fiction, you must be wondering if there will be a Designated Survivor season 4 or not because there is speculation that the series’ producers saw fit to back off after making what they call a “valid conclusion” on the series. In this article, you will know the answer and more, so keep reading!
Designated Survivor Season 4 Won’t Air, Confirmed In 2022! ( Insider Fun Facts)
What is Designated Survivor about?
Let’s talk about Designated Survivor, recognized as the best political thriller of its kind. This is a drama series created by David Guggenheim and starring Kiefer Sutherland. The first and second seasons were broadcast on ABC.
The show starts off cool. After a major attack on the Capitol building, the President and all other successors are killed. Only one survivor of the explosion remained; Housing and Urban Development Minister Thomas Kirkman, who would be named as the designated survivor, remains alive.
Kiefer Sutherland plays Thomas Kirkman, an American politician appointed as “duty successor” during the State of the Union address. After the death of the President of the United States and all his immediate successors, Kirkman, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of the United States, became the new head of the United States without imagining what he will have to face later.
Will there be a Designated Survivor Season 4?
After the third season of the series, fans have expressed a great desire to see Designated Survivor season 4 on Netflix screens. However, despite the fact that the series was well received by the audience on said platform, Netflix announced around May 2022 that there would be no season 4 of Designated Survivor.
We know this is sad news as the Designated Survivor political drama has been adored since its inception in 2016. However, as fans we remain hopeful that the series can be renewed after some time. But in 2022, it seems unlikely.
One other thing that most people don’t know is that the show was later canceled due to declining ratings. So, Netflix takes the reins and continues with a third season until the series was canceled due to complications with the contracts of the actors.
Season 3 Designated Survivor Ending Explained:
Since we won’t be revering Designated Survivor season 4 on-screen, let’s remember how the series ended. In recent episodes Kirkman continues to strive to be an honest politician and faithful to his ideas of him. But, he has no choice but to face the reality of politics, which mostly forces him to make decisions that will make him doubt his honesty. And he realizes that he has become one of those lying politicians.
Well, he must continue playing the politician of a democracy, full of people not only with different ideas and interests. But also with a blind desire to come to power at any cost. And this is what really brings season three to life.
Designated Survivor Cast And Their Story:
Designated Survivor features an extraordinary cast, who have undoubtedly excelled in their characters in the series. It can be said that the success of the series is due in part to their talent. Here’s the main cast. We hope to see you in a future adaptation of Designated Survivor Season 4.
Kiefer Sutherland as: Tom Kirkman
Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, the President of the United States sworn in after the unprecedented attack on the Capitol building that killed every member of the US government. Previously, he was working as Minister of Housing and Urban Development, but at the end of the third season, Kirkman is elected to a second term.
Natascha McElhone as: Alex Kirkman
Natasha McElhone as Alex Kirkman (seasons 1–2), First Lady of the United States. Prior to becoming First Lady, Alex worked as a lawyer for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In the second season, she died after a truck crashed into the motorcade in which she was traveling.
Italia Ricci as: Emily Rhodes
Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes, speaker for Kirkman’s presidential campaign. She has worked for Tom since he was housing minister and was his chief of staff. After Kirkman became president, she was appointed special adviser, and after Aaron’s resignation, chief of staff to the president. Rhodes left the White House to live in Florida with her mother. She later returned and was reinstated as Special Counsel.
Adam Canto as: Aaron Shore
Adan Canto as Aaron Shor, Vice President-elect of the United States. He was Kirkman’s first chief of staff. Resigned after questioning about the terrorist attack on the Capitol. After that, he worked as a senior assistant to the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kimble Hookstraten, and then returned to the White House as a national security adviser to the president.
La Monita Garrett as: Mike Ritter
La Monica Garrett as Michael Ritter (seasons 1-2), US Secret Service agent, President Kirkman’s personal bodyguard. Ritter was responsible for the safety of the entire Kirkman family after the attack on the Capitol.
Kal Penn as: Seth Wright
Kal Penn as Seth Wright, White House Communications Director. Initially doubtful of Tom’s abilities as president, but soon becomes one of his closest advisors. He was appointed press secretary because of his sociability. In the third season, he was promoted to Director of Communications.
Maggie Q as: Hannah Wells
Maggie Q as Hannah Wells, CIA operative. A former FBI agent tasked with investigating the attack on the Capitol and bringing those responsible to justice. In the third season, after being fired from the Bureau, Hanna works for the CIA and investigates a possible bioterrorism threat.
Some Fun Facts About The Designated Survivor Show:
Here’s how the main cast was hired:
On February 5, 2016, it was announced that four actors had been hired for the main roles at once. Maggie Q was invited to play the lead FBI agent, Kal Penn as a speechwriter, Italia Ricci as Chief of Staff to the President of the United States, and Natasha McElhone took on the role of First Lady, who also works on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On February 8, Adan Canto, having turned down seven other pilot offers, joined the project as Deputy Chief of Staff of the White House.
On March 1, LaMonica Garrett was cast as a Secret Service officer. The next day, Tanner Buchanan and McKenna Grace were cast as the president’s children.
Netflix bought the show from ABC:
Designated Survivor was a political thriller drama television series created by David Guggenheim. The first two seasons aired on ABC, while the third and final season aired on Netflix.
In May 2018, ABC canceled the series after two seasons because they were in negotiations that didn’t end well.
To the rescue came Netflix and Entertainment One which announced that they had reached an agreement to film the third season of The Final Candidate in September 2018, consisting of 10 episodes. The third season was released on Netflix on June 7, 2019. In July 2019, the series was canceled by Netflix due to problems with the actors’ contracts.
Season 1 hit 10 million views:
The production of the Designated Survivor project did without filming the pilot episode. The series was ordered on December 14, 2015, and the project was officially announced on May 6, 2016. The first episode premiered on September 21, 2016; it was watched by more than 10 million viewers. Eight days later, a full season was ordered. On December 14, 2015, it was announced that ABC had ordered the series from Mark Gordon’s studio, starring Kiefer Sutherland, bypassing the production stage of the pilot, as several networks applied for the project.
Less than a year later on May 11, 2017, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 27, 2017.
Development into a family drama:
The Designated Survivor project was described as a political thriller with elements of a family drama. The screenplay was written by David Guggenheim and one of the executive producers was Simon Kinberg. For Gordon and his independent studio Mark Gordon Company, this is the first project under a joint deal with Entertainment One. Sutherland, in turn, is also the show’s executive producer.
The showrunner position was taken over in February 2016 by Amy B. Harris, who took over under her shared deal with ABC Studios after her previous project, Wicked City, fell through.