Longmire fans can now rest easy. The western crime drama has been renewed by Netflix for a fifth season, Variety reports.
On Friday, this message was posted on the Longmire Facebook page: "We've never been one to back down from a fight. Longmire will return to Netflix for Season 5."
The Western crime drama is based on the novels by Craig Johnson. The series aired on A&E for three seasons until it was canceled by the network. The decision didn't go well with the fans, so they began the campaign for someone to "save" their favorite series.
A&E gave two reasons why the western was axed in the summer of 2014: the first is that the show wasn't hitting male viewers in the late teens and late 40s. The second was that Longmire was produced by Warner Studios. A&E preferred to air shows that they directly produced. It was a decision based on profit, and one that caused the early end of a promising series.
Fans and cast members joined in to lobby for Longmire's survival. Eventually, it was Netflix who swooped in to save the day. The streaming service funded the10-episode run launched in September this year. The fourth season is set on following Walt Longmire and what transpires after he finds out who killed his wife.
Though the 4th season is only midway done, the great thing is that viewers don't have to wait that long to know if Longmire will be renewed for another season. The detective-adventure series may be released by September 2016 in keeping with the production schedule, Comm Digi News reports.
The show stars Robert Taylor as the sheriff of a small town in Wyoming - in the remote Absaroka County. Completing the cast are Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Cassidy Freeman and Adam Bartley. Longmire is produced by The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Horizon Television. Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny, Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin are the executive producers.
Coveny, who was recently at the Television Critics Association press tour, said that "Netflix said, 'We want human beings to watch this show - if it has heart and soul to it, we need that piece in the Netflix family.'"
Shepard was also grateful to Netflix, saying, "We're mercifully with a wonderful company now that values viewers over demos and we're benefiting from that."
Netflix's 10-episode Season 4 is already available for marathon viewing sessions.
