Hulu has officially canceled its original drama series Black Cake after just one season, putting an end to the show nearly a year after its debut. The series, which premiered in November 2023, will not return for a second season, leaving fans of the drama with only its initial run to enjoy. The decision comes 10 months after the season finale, which aired on December 6, 2023.
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Adapted from Charmaine Wilkerson’s bestselling 2022 novel, Black Cake follows the story of two siblings, Benny and Byron Bennett, who are thrown into an unexpected journey of family discovery after their mother’s death. The plot unravels when they receive a flash drive from their late mother, revealing untold stories of her life, spanning from her origins in the Caribbean to America. The revelations challenge everything they thought they knew about their family’s history. The show starred Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren as Benny and Them actor Ashley Thomas as Byron, with Mia Isaac, Glynn Turman, Chipo Chung, and Faith Alabi in supporting roles.
Developed by Marissa Jo Cerar, Black Cake was lauded for its intricate storytelling, blending family drama with a murder mystery that spans several decades and locations, including Jamaica, Italy, Scotland, and Southern California. The show received critical acclaim, holding a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning multiple award nominations, including NAACP Image Awards and GLAAD Media Awards. Despite this, Hulu opted not to continue with a second season.
The show’s cancellation is part of a larger trend at Hulu, with the platform also announcing the end of another original series, UnPrisoned, starring Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo, after two seasons. The move reflects Hulu’s ongoing shift in its content strategy, despite the positive reception of many of its original productions.
Fans of the Black Cake novel and its on-screen adaptation will have to settle for the single season, as the streamer wraps up its involvement with the series.