WARNING: This article contains some spoilers for The Expanse season 5 finale. Read at your own risk.
Amazon Prime Video already renewed The Expanse season 6 ahead of the official release of the recently-concluded season 5. But then, the streaming platform also announced that the sixth installment will serve as the final one for the sci-fi drama.
Although The Expanse season 6 was ordered, the official release date remains uncertain as of this writing. Previous reports suggest that the final installment started production back in January 2021. If there are no filming setbacks, the series finale may arrive in either late 2021 or early 2022.
The fourth and fifth seasons were released on Amazon Prime Video in December 2019 and December 2020, respectively. While the sixth season may follow the same schedule, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a major filming challenge and the premiere might be moved at a later date.
Meanwhile, the main cast members are set to return in The Expanse season 6. That means Steven Strait is coming back as James Holden, Wes Chatham as Amos Burton, Dominique Tipper as Naomi Nagata, Frankie Adams as Bobbie Draper, and Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala.
However, a major character won't be an official part of the series finale. It can be recalled that Cas Anvar's Alex Kamal didn't survive following the events in the season 5 finale. He died from a stroke after rescuing Naomi, which means that he's no longer part of the sixth installment.
The reason for Anvar's exit wasn't revealed, but he was, reportedly, investigated by the series' producer Alcon Television Group after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. The issue was brought forward in the summer of 2020, but the actor denied the allegations.
The plot of The Expanse season 6 is unknown right now, but the final installment is based on Babylon's Ashes book. Earth is still grappling with the aftermath of Marco Inaros' (Keon Alexander) attack and a war between the Blue Planet and the Free Navy is brewing.
Marco is desperate to dominate the system and the Roci crew will do whatever they can to stop his plan. However, they also need to take on another enemy from the Laconia system, with the aliens being brought back to life by Paolo Cortazar.
In a previous interview with Collider, executive producer Ty Franck made it clear that the final installment will honor the story that was set up since the beginning of the series. He noted that The Expanse season 6 pays off the story where season 1 episode 1 started.
