Scrolling throughNetflixis like a never-ending pool of possibilities, twists, and turns. Netflix is the kind of streaming platform that has shows, specials, and movies for every demographic out there. No matter what you are in the mood for, Netflix is guaranteed to have something for you. When it comes to shows tailored for younger audiences,Julie and the Phantomswas one of those shows that really took off after its release. The musical children’s series was one of the most popular projects to come from Netflix. However, the show was canceled after just one season. But why?
Netflix has areputation for canceling showsdespite how popular they are.Julie and the Phantomshad the formula to be a solid show on the platform. You have a young woman of color who is making her big debut in the industry in Madison Reyes. Alongside undeniable chemistry between the entire cast and a fantastic soundtrack, the potentialJulie and the Phantomshad been through the roof. However, whether it be the wrong demographic watching the show or Netflix placing its eggs in other baskets, let’s check out why Netflix canceledJulie and the Phantoms.
Update August 03, 2025: The cancelation still stings, and this article has been updated with more information as to why Netflix canceled Julie and the Phantoms to further reflect Netflix’s recent decisions.
A Little Backstory
Julie and the Phantomsis a children’s musical series that came out on Netflix in 2020. The show follows a young Julie Molina (Reyes), who is learning to redefine her passion and love for music since the death of her mother. Just when she is about to give up, she summons the ghosts of the 90s band Sunset Curve. Julie is the key to bringing new life into the band of ghost teenagers because when she performs with them, they are visible to everyone who is alive.
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As they develop a partnership and friendship with each other, they face dangers that threaten the future of their music careers. Julie, Luke, Alex, and Reggie attempt to make their dreams come true, light up the stage, and bring sweet music to our ears. However, despite the heartfelt and wholesome plot, Netflix did not see a future for the show after the first season.
The Cast and the Creator
In order to really put things into perspective, we have to highlight the most crucial part of why this show was such a success after only one season: the fabulous cast and the iconic creator. The show stars a fresh face in the young adult musical world with Reyes as Julie, Charlie Gillespie as Luke, Owen Joyner as Alex, andAdventure Time’sJeremy Shada as Reggie.
This show is jam-packed of heart, soul, and talent, and its untimely cancelation after one season is continuously a hard pill to swallow. The cast of this show gave audiences a story to fall head over heels for and performed a soundtrack that had us on our feet and withholding our tears. The chemistry between this group of young actors is undeniable when they are on-screen, and their love for each other can certainly be confirmed, considering that the group still enjoys hanging out and tackling different projects together. That in of itself made this show something to root for.
Also, if the talent on the show feels as special for you as it did us, we have to give credit to a familiar name in the young adult musical realm: the show’screator, Kenny Ortega. Ortega is no stranger to making musicals that are meant to define generations of childhood nostalgia. Some very notable projects in his back pocket are theHigh School Musicalfranchise,Cheetah Girls 2,Newsies,Hocus Pocus, andThe Descendants. The show’s music, choreography, costuming, and cast all ride on the back of this absolute force in the entertainment industry.
The Wrong Audience
It is no secret thatJulie and the Phantomsis a show tailored for a young audience. The show itself is bright, family-friendly, and entirely wholesome to its core. However, the audience that it seemed to garner since its release is definitely much older than anticipated. Viewers in their late teens and their 20s have seen themselves gravitating to the show. Well, that can be attributed to a few things about how the show is presented to fans.
First and foremost, the soundtrack of this show is dynamic. The stars, particularly Reyes, are the complete highlights of each number. With an obviously new and talented group of actors as well as some seasoned veterans like Cheyenne Jackson andThe Decedents’own Booboo Stewart, the music makes this show something that every person can relate to and listen to for any time and place.
Furthermore, considering thatJulie and the Phantomswas first released in September 2020, it found its way into people’s hearts right amidst the pandemic. It is no surprise that the majority of people found themselves stuck at home and in serious need of some light-hearted and uplifting distraction. This series offered just that. It spread a feeling of comfort and joy when the situation all around the world was daunting and scary. During this time, and even today,Julie and the Phantomsdoesn’t attract only a certain age. The show’s storyline, characters, and music has brought excitement to different people in different stages of their lives, and Julie and her band manages to unite fans in a comforting way.
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In addition to all that, Ortega’s role in the show’s creation brings to life a new sense of nostalgia. Ortega is responsible for creating some of the best projects for young audiences and this one is right up there with the greats. The magic that he brings to the screen is reflected throughout this incredible series and touched people who grew up with his older projects. Ortega is a legend to many of us since his movies and shows have the ability to uplift the audience to this day.
Just one look at theHigh School Musical franchiseis enough, and it becomes clear that the director has created something long-lasting that makes people dance regardless of their age. However, with this older audience ready to watch anything that Ortega puts out, the Netflix demographic was all over the place. This contributes to the reason why Netflix canceled the series. If they wanted a show that brought in a younger demographic,Julie and the Phantomsdid not do enough.
Netflix’s Ongoing Pattern
Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world. They pump out content like a factory, and as much as Netflix seems to be able to produce, they are a business first and foremost. They are just trying to see which projects work for what they want. Sometimes, this leads to shows, however beloved, getting canceled early.
Netflix canceling shows after just one season should be a crime at this point, but that has never stopped them. Shows likeI Am Not Okay With This,The Society, and, of course,Julie and the Phantomshave all been victims of Netflix’s lack of dedication to complete storylines. Especially in the case of Julie and the Phantoms, the cancelation of the show might turn out to be a huge mistake on Netflix’s part. Considering how successful Ortega’s previous projects were and still are, and the immense impact they made, the show about the girl with the amazing voice and her band of ghosts could have been an absolute hit, if the streaming platform had given it another chance.
Netflix officially announced thatJulie and the Phantomswill not be renewed for a second season in September 2022. The news not only deeply hit fans of the beloved show but also the entire cast. When the main cast and Kenny Ortega were in Paris and stood on-stage in front of the show’s fans, especially Madison Reyes (Julie) and Jadah Marie (Flynn) were bawling their eyes out with tissues at the ready.
The other actors, Charles Gillespie, Owen Joyner, and Jeremy Shada, however, were also visibly saddened, and so were the loyal fans. Since the first season aired, fans of the show have been hounding Netflix on social media to renew the series to no avail and startingpetitions and campaignsto get another season. However, there is still a sliver of hope out there. Ortega and the cast have expressed numerous times that they would love to be able to tell Julie’s story, and if that means continuing on another platform, then so be it. The talk about this show getting the ending it deserved has died down in the last few months but the dedication and love from fans have yet to dwindle.
