Ryan Murphy’s medical drama Doctor Odyssey will not return for a second season on ABC in the near future, according to industry sources. The show’s cast options expire soon without being renewed, allowing actors to pursue other projects. While the crew members have mostly moved on, many continue to work within Murphy’s network of productions.
Although Doctor Odyssey has not been officially canceled, Murphy is currently exploring creative possibilities for the series’ future, including the possibility of continuing the show on ABC or Hulu, where it has performed well. New contracts with the cast would be required if the series returns.
In the meantime, Murphy’s output for ABC remains robust. His new spinoff 9-1-1: Nashville is set to replace Doctor Odyssey in the Thursday 9 PM slot, following the returning 9-1-1.
Craig Erwich, President of Disney Television Group, told Deadline, “Doctor Odyssey isn’t currently on our schedule. Ryan is very busy with 9-1-1, 9-1-1 Nashville, and All’s Fair for Hulu. We are continuing our creative conversations with him.”
Doctor Odyssey, starring Joshua Jackson, Don Johnson, Phillipa Soo, and Sean Teale, debuted strongly last fall. Its trailer set a record with 77.8 million views in the first 48 hours, and the premiere attracted 13.6 million cross-platform viewers in the first week.
Despite this promising start and some ratings bumps from a 9-1-1 crossover and the finale, the show failed to maintain momentum. It averaged some of the lowest linear ratings on ABC among freshman dramas, despite its strong lead-in. Additionally, the show’s high production costs and a pending sexual harassment lawsuit by three former crew members added to its challenges.
Nevertheless, the series quickly built a dedicated cult following thanks to its escapist tone and campy style, gaining traction on streaming platforms and social media.
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The decision about the show’s future remains in Murphy’s hands, with the possibility of revival open if he develops a new concept. This approach mirrors other cult series revivals, such as HBO’s The Comeback, which returned for a third season two decades after its debut.
Sources say the creative process for any continuation will take time due to Murphy’s extensive commitments. For now, Doctor Odyssey is concluded, with sets being dismantled, marking it as the only new or returning ABC series from 2024-25 not renewed for the 2025-26 season.
Eric Schrier, President of Disney TV Studios, praised the show, saying, “I really love Doctor Odyssey. It’s a wildly inventive show, and we’re doing everything we can to support it.”
Comedian and Last Week Tonight host John Oliver, a fan of the series, publicly criticized ABC for not renewing the show, describing it as “sexy ER on a boat” with “big deck energy” and lamented the network’s decision to renew less innovative series instead.
Doctor Odyssey was executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Joshua Jackson, Don Johnson, Jon Robin Baitz, Joe Baken, and Paris Barclay, who also directed and executive produced. Additional executive producers included Eric Paquette, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, and Nissa Diederich.
