It’s a case of Manifest destiny for J.R. Ramirez.
After weeks of negotiations, Netflix has finalized a deal for a super-sized fourth and final season of the missing plane drama Manifest, starring the 40-year-old Cuban actor.
Manifest will be available exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
In a nod to Manifest’s fans, whose passionate support helped resurrect the show following its cancellation by NBC, the announcement of the Season 4 pickup was made on so-called “828 Day” (8/28) — when the series about the mystery of Flight 828 is celebrated annually — at 8:28 AM PT.
The final season of Manifest, created by Jeff Rake, will be made up of 20 episodes. As is customary for series on Netflix, the 20-episode season will be split into multiple parts.
In anticipation of closing the agreement with Netflix, Manifest lead studio Warner Bros. Television earlier this month started negotiations with the cast to return, in addition to reaching out to writers who’d worked on the show and new ones about joining executive producer/showrunner Rake for Season 4.
Stars Josh Dallas and Melissa Roxburgh have closed deals for the final season.Ramirez also is believed to be set, while Parveen Kaur remains in negotiations, along with some or all of the remaining series regulars: Luna Blaise, Matt Long and Jack Messina.
The Manifest actors all participated in the #SaveManifest campaign, which helped keep the show at the top of the Netflix streaming rankings — and ultimately bring it back from the dead.
The pact with Warner Bros. Television also includes the existing three seasons of Manifest, which are currently available on Netflix in the U.S. and will debut on the platform in markets around the world in the coming months.
“Since its premiere on Netflix in June, Manifest has proven very popular with our members,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix Head of Global TV. “Jeff Rake and his team have crafted a beguiling mystery that has viewers around the world on the edge of their seats and believing again in second chances, and we’re thrilled that they will bring fans some closure with this final super-sized season.”
The pickup by Netflix will give fans answers after the cancellation by NBC made for a premature ending, leaving unanswered questions and unresolved Season 3 finale cliffhangers for the series, which had been originally conceived by Rake for a six-season run. That plan will now be condensed to bring the story of the passengers of Flight 828 to a proper conclusion in four seasons. The super-sized 20-episode pickup would help toward that goal as represents Manifest‘s largest season order. (The series’ first season consisted of 16 episodes, Season 2 and 3 featured 13 episodes each.)
“What started years ago as a flight of fancy deep in my imagination has evolved into the jet engine journey of a lifetime,” Rake said. “Never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned the worldwide outpouring of love and support for this story, its characters, and the team who work so hard to bring it all to life. That we will be able to reward the fans with the ending they deserve moves me to no end. On behalf of the cast, the crew, the writers, directors, and producers, thank you to Netflix, to Warner Bros., and of course to the fans. You did this.”
In Manifest, when Montego Air Flight 828 landed safely after a turbulent but routine flight, the crew and passengers were relieved. Yet in the span of those few hours, the world had aged five years — and their friends, families and colleagues, after mourning their loss, had given up hope and moved on. Now, faced with the impossible, they’re all given a second chance. But as their new realities become clear, a deeper mystery unfolds and some of the returned passengers soon realize they may be meant for something greater than they ever thought possible.
As part of the deal, she’ll develop and create original programming via WBTV for all platforms.
