Warrior nun is resurrected. The fantasy drama series, which was canceled by Netflix after two seasons, will return as a trilogy of feature films, executive producer Dean English revealed Tuesday.
Late last month, series creator Simon Barry credited an intense fan campaign to revive the show after its cancellation: “Today I’m pleased to officially announce that because of your combined voices, passion and amazing efforts – Warrior nun will return and become EPICer than you can imagine,” Barry tweeted on June 28. “More details to follow! SOON! Thanks!!” (Writer and Consulting Producer Amy Berg confirmed Barry’s news.)
However, the “more details” part took some time to come together. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter shortly after Barry’s tweet that the resurrection of Warrior nun wouldn’t happen at his former home, Netflix. Talks with the show’s rights holders, English’s Perfect Circle Productions and Productivity Media, were underway at the time Barry shared the news on social media.
Some details were finally revealed on Tuesday, with Engels confirming the feature film plan in a YouTube video and in a statement on a website set up to save Warrior nun. “I have to start by thanking all the loyal fans. It is thanks to you and your incredible energy that we continue to make these stories. You really make it all worth it. So thank you so much for your continued support,” English said at the beginning of the clip.
“I am very happy to announce that Warrior nun comes back as a trilogy of movies. Again a trilogy of feature films. Three,” he added.
English was light on further details, acknowledging that the ongoing Hollywood strikes meant he couldn’t make any announcements about creative talent associated with the film trilogy. “One thing we need to discuss is the Hollywood strike involving actors and writers. And that’s why we can’t make any announcements on that front today,” he said in the video.
Based on the comic book Warrior nun Areala by Ben Dunn, the show follows Ava (Alba Baptista), a young woman who is resurrected after death by a divine artifact implanted in her back. She discovers that she is part of the Order of the Cruciform Sword, an ancient order tasked with fighting demons on Earth.
It premiered in July 2020 to generally positive reviews and was renewed for a second season about six weeks after its debut. Season two premiered in November 2022; it spent three weeks in Netflix’s global top 10 list for English-language TV series – peaking at number 5 in its second week – and two weeks in Nielsen’s US streaming rankings. Netflix canceled the show in December.
After the cancellation, fans of Warrior nun made a concerted effort to revive the show on social media and with billboard and other campaigns. Barry mentioned those fans in his tweet announcing the revival.
Together with Baptista, Warrior nun with Lorena Andrea, Kristina Tonteri-Young, Tristán Ulloa, Olivia Declán, Thekla Reuten, Sylvia De Fanti and William Miller. Barry co-produced season two with Stephen Hegyes and David Hayter.
