BYUtv’s ‘Extinct’ Finds Success on Prime Video
A cancelled BYUtv show, ‘Extinct’, is gaining popularity on Prime Video nearly a decade after its initial release. Created by celebrated author Orson Scott Card and bestselling author Aaron Johnston, the short-lived sci-fi series has been rediscovered and climbed Prime Video’s U.S. streaming charts, reaching the top 10 in August.
A New Life for ‘Extinct’
Filmed in Utah and premiering in 2017, ‘Extinct’ was recently added to Prime Video, generating renewed interest. Actor Chad Michael Collins, who starred in the series, expressed gratitude to viewers for the resurgence of interest, celebrating its ranking as the fifth most-watched show on the platform.
Plot Overview
Set 400 years post the extinction of humanity, ‘Extinct’ explores the journey of Reborns, a group of humans restored by an alien civilization called Originators. However, their attempts at rebuilding civilization are threatened by the Skin Riders, humans infected with an alien parasite. The series delves into deep philosophical questions about humanity’s imperfections, beautifully showcased by character Matthew Bellows, who plays the Skin Riders’ leader.
Filming in a Unique Landscape
The series was filmed in central and southern Utah, a region rich in sci-fi storytelling history. Bellows, a Utah native, expressed pride in being part of this unique narrative backdrop.
Cancellation and Legacy
Despite its potential, BYUtv announced the cancellation of ‘Extinct’ in January 2018, shortly after its cliffhanger season finale. It followed in the footsteps of BYUtv’s earlier original series, ‘Granite Flats’, which achieved national attention and a three-year run on Netflix.
Both ‘Extinct’ and ‘Granite Flats’ remain available for streaming on BYUtv.
