Doctor Odyssey Update Details Who Will Make The Final Decision About Season 2 Renewal

Doctor Odyssey season 2 continues to hang in limbo, with a Disney executive revealing the person in charge of making the final renewal decision. ABC has renewed nearly all of its scripted comedies and dramas, ranging from the new sitcom Shifting Gears to established dramas like 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy. But the fate of the soapy medical procedural, led by Joshua Jackson, remains undecided as executives have struck cautiously optimistic notes about the chances of Doctor Odyssey season 2.

In a wide-ranging interview with Deadline, Disney Television Studios president Eric Schrier was asked to provide an update on the chances of Doctor Odyssey season 2. Schrier oversees 20th Television, which produces the medical drama, and says that the renewal decision ultimately comes down to co-creator and executive producer Ryan Murphy and whether he feels that there are more stories to tell. Schrier’s quote is below:

I really love Doctor Odyssey, I think it’s a wildly inventive show, and we’re doing everything we can to support it. That decision ultimately lies with Ryan Murphy, whether Ryan wants to continue to do it, and he feels like there’s stories to tell that he feels confident in.

What The Latest Update Means For Doctor Odyssey

It Could Still Go Either Way

Doctor Odyssey could face potential cancellation due to a reported combination of high production costs and ratings that are lower than expected. The series sometimes includes set pieces, which can be costly on a network budget. The cast of Doctor Odyssey, with TV veterans like Jackson and Don Johnson, in addition to notable guest stars, is also said to be relatively pricey. These are all factors that weigh against the show, co-created by Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken.

9 Special Weeks We Want To See In Doctor Odyssey Next

Doctor Odyssey has had some strange themes so far but it has so many more it can show as a special week on the luxurious The Odyssey cruise ship.

This is in contrast to the show’s ratings, which have slipped since its premiere in late 2024. Doctor Odyssey debuted to more than seven million viewers, but more recently, it has settled into over 4 million viewers once delayed viewership is taken into account. But based on comments from Schrier and other executives, it does sound like there is a path forward for the freshman drama depending on what Murphy decides to pursue. It’s worth noting that the mega-producer has several different projects in the works.

Our Take On Doctor Odyssey’s Renewal

Murphy Has His Hands Full

Max in an episode of Doctor Odyssey, with eyebrows up

Reading between the lines, it sounds like the medical series needs a third ingredient to help it secure a renewal. In addition to keeping the budget manageable and the ratings up, it may have to find a story hook that would make season 2 worth tuning in for. That could be the much-speculated Doctor Odyssey dream theory. But with Murphy having several shows in development, across Hulu, FX, and ABC, in addition to his Monster anthology at Netflix, it’s hard to say whether there will be a big push to save the struggling new drama.

Doctor Odyssey airs Thursdays at 9 PM ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.

Source: Deadline