The pilot season of Marco Polo was originally developed for Starz. In 2012, the network picked up the show and ran the whole season. But after failing to obtain stellar viewership records, the series was returned to its production company, The Weinstein Company.
Two years after, Netflix decided to give the show a go. And on December of 2014, the streaming giant released the pilot season of Marco Polo.
Just like any series material offerings from Netflix, the platform did not release any viewership records. Even so, the show was renewed for a new season.
The second season arrived on the streaming platform in 2016. But after releasing the ten-episode season, no word was heard from the heads and bosses of both parties regarding the third season renewal. It is only five months after that Netflix released its official confirmation that Marco Polo will no longer return for a new season.
Despite the showrunners' optimism toward the performance of the series, it was never picked up again by any network or channel. And according to Crossmap, they've tried to talk with various networks like HBO, AMC, and NBC. But sadly, the reviews were bad enough for these networks to even consider the show.
Aside from the negative reviews and low viewership numbers, it was revealed that Marco Polo is one of the most expensive television series since then. It falls just next to Game of Thrones. And with a total of $90 million expenses, just for the pilot season alone, it was not working well for everyone.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the main reason why Netflix canceled the series was due to the $200-million loss that the show incurred for its two-season run on the platform. Although Netflix nor The Weinstein Company did not confirm this point, the publication asserted that these reports came from a close source.
It is also worth noting that these figures seemed plausible. And matching it with the overall performance of the show, it is not hard for critics to derive the same conclusion.
Another factor being looked upon regarding its cancellation was due to the cast members' contract terms. As per Variety, the contracts of the actors were all expiring after the second season. So, it seemed that the cancellation of the third season was decided in a mutual agreement.
With these things and points at hand, this only goes without saying that Marco Polo Season 3 is not happening. It did not happen three years ago, and it's pretty much unlikely for the series to happen in the future.
