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One of Netflix’s most anticipated shows of 2025, The Recruit, has been axed after two seasons.
The thriller, starring To All The Boys I Loved Before heartthrob Noah Centineo, came out in 2022 and quickly amassed a huge fanbase that patiently waited over two years for a new season.
The show, created by Alexi Hawley, follows lawyer Owen Hendricks, whose life is instantly flipped upside down when he starts working for the CIA and is plunged into international conflicts that show no sign of abating.
The six-episode second season landed on the streaming platform at the end of January and quickly climbed the global charts, peaking at second spot on top English-language TV shows.
During its few weeks on the charts, it gained over 15 million views, which is impressive but not enough to outpace rival thrillers like The Night Agent that secure the top spot and the same amount of views in its first week alone.
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Multiple outlets have confirmed Netflix has pulled the plug on the show, and Metro has also reached out for comment.
Actor Colton Dunn, who plays Lester Kitchens, took to Threads to share their dismay at the news.
‘The Recruit has been cancelled yall. Such a bummer. I’ll share some pics and fun memories on IG but just wanted you to hear it from me. Thanks if you watched. I’m AVAILABLE NOW! Hire me for you tv story!!’ he posted.
In a follow-up post, he added: ‘You can’t cancel the memories. Very thankful to the cast, crew and creator of The Recruit. It was a good run with lots of fun,’ alongside a montage of behind-the-scenes videos from set.
And fans are completely devastated, pointing out how tough it would have been to compete with The Night Agent in the same release window.
Season two of The Recruit was so much better than one UGH we could’ve been going places I’m MAD. Netflix take it back,’ @aIreadyovers shared.
‘I hate Netflix they take everything,’ @ltmasterm1nd wrote.
‘WTF that was my show. Season 2 was good. If Netflix is going to keep canceling shows maybe they should stick to making movies,’ @bourgeoisdoll added.
‘If Noah Centineo isn’t safe from a Netflix cancelation then who is?’ @girlmediocre88 said.
‘Netflix you did us dirty!!!’ @ericrandom declared.
The show, set in Seoul in season two, holds a respectable 80% Rotten Tomatoes score overall (and a whopping 92% for season two).
It has been praised by critics as ‘fast-paced’, ‘charming’ and ‘entertaining’.
In January there was still hope among the cast that a third or fourth season could be round the corner.
As Noah told Deadline: ‘I always wonder if Alexi’s going to jump forward many years if we get a third or fourth [season] but I think that’s engaging, I think it’s cool to watch a character grow day by day.’
As for his favourite thing about filming season two, he added: ‘I’m so excited that Janus Ferber, played by Kristian Bruun, gets such an arc this season. He’s such a good actor, working with him is phenomenal.
‘And having Teo Yoo come in and just elevate everything. The guy is such a powerhouse, he’s completely unrecognizable from Past Lives in this, a wonderful scene partner and great human being.’
The Recruit is available to watch on Netflix.
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