Why was Anne with an E canceled? Here's the real reason the series ended

Anne with an E captivated audiences worldwide with its bold retelling of Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic novel, but the CBC/Netflix co-production was abruptly cancelled in November 2019 after just three seasons — despite glowing reviews, a devoted global fanbase, and awards recognition. The real reason why Anne with an E was cancelled comes down to a perfect storm: a breakdown in the CBC–Netflix partnership, insufficient domestic ratings, and the cold logic of streaming economics.

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Key takeaways

• Anne with an E was officially cancelled on 25 November 2019, the day after its season 3 finale aired on CBC.
• CBC ended its co-production deal with Netflix in October 2019, one month before the cancellation announcement.
• CBC cited low viewership among the 25–54 target demographic as a key reason for not continuing the show.
• Over 1.7 million fans signed a Change.org petition to renew the series — one of the largest fan campaigns in television history.
• No season 4 has been confirmed, and as of 2026, there has been no official movement on a revival.

Profile summary

Series title	Anne with an E
Based on	Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (1908)
Created by	Moira Walley-Beckett
Co-executive producer	Miranda de Pencier
Network	CBC (Canada) / Netflix (international)
Premiered	19 March 2017
Final episode	24 November 2019
Seasons	3 (27 episodes total)
Lead star	Amybeth McNulty as Anne Shirley-Cuthbert
Supporting cast	Lucas Jade Zumann, Geraldine James, R.H. Thomson, Dalila Bela
Filmed in	Prince Edward Island and Ontario, Canada
Awards	Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series (2017, 2018)

Why was Anne with an E cancelled after season 3?

Anne with an E was cancelled in November 2019, the day after the season 3 finale aired in Canada. The cancellation shocked fans, and frustratingly, Netflix never gave a clear public reason — leaving viewers to wonder whether it was a decline in viewership or whether the show was no longer profitable enough.

In reality, the answer involves at least two overlapping causes.

The CBC–Netflix split

Part of the reason was the breakdown of Netflix's and CBC's partnership. Netflix and CBC co-produced Anne with an E, but in 2019, CBC announced it was parting ways with Netflix.

Catherine Tait, CBC's CEO, said on an episode of the podcast Content Canada that they felt producing shows for the streaming service was hurting the domestic film industry in Canada.

In an October 2019 statement, Tait expressed disappointment in Netflix, stating: "We're not going to do deals that hurt the long-term viability of our domestic industry." One month later, the cancellation was confirmed.

Ratings that fell short of targets

After the outcry from fans, CBC claimed that the decision to end the show was mutual with Netflix and that the primary reason was that the show wasn't growing its target audience of viewers in the 25–54 age range.

The series had fans around the world thanks to Netflix, but it was never a huge hit for CBC TV. It got about half the viewing numbers that Murdoch Mysteries achieved, and its Sunday night time slot put it up against the hottest series on prestige cable.

Furthermore, its older audience in Canada was put off by its divergence from the beloved source material.

Netflix's economics played a role

Creator Moira Walley-Beckett took to Instagram after the cancellation was announced to address fans directly. In an Instagram post, Walley-Beckett said she had "fought" to bring the series back, adding: "We tried to change their minds. We tried to find a new home. We tried for a finale movie...We tried our best."

In a follow-up message to fans, she was blunt about what she had been told:

"It's impossible to argue with words like Economics, Algorithms, Demographics, etc., etc. But those words and others like them are the reason why the Networks don't want to continue. And we didn't find a taker anywhere else."

Netflix also contractually restricts shows from seeking new networks immediately after Netflix cancels them, according to Deadline. This meant that even if another broadcaster had shown interest, the path to a revival was legally complex.

Did Anne with an E end on a cliffhanger?

Not exactly — but it left plenty unresolved. The third and final season ends with Anne saying goodbye to Green Gables and beginning a new life at Queen's College, though her departure is marred by several major hiccups. Diana's parents initially forbid her from joining Anne at school, and Matthew's cavalier attitude makes Anne feel like he won't even miss her when she's gone.

The romantic storyline, however, does reach a resolution of sorts. Gilbert begins the finale by ending his engagement to Winnie. Gilbert writes Anne a note and finally discloses his feelings for her: "I don't expect your good favour, but I can't in good conscience not reveal myself. I'm not engaged, nor will I be, unless it's to you, Anne. My Anne with an E. It always has been, and always will be you."

When Anne sees the note, she assumes it's Gilbert's rejection, so she tears it up before reading it. She immediately regrets this and tries to put the torn pieces back together — but she concludes that Gilbert was actually rejecting her.

Miss Stacey helps Gilbert gain entry to the University of Toronto, and Anne finally learns the truth about Gilbert's feelings when she runs into Winifred. At the end of the finale, Anne and Gilbert finally get together at her family's farm in Avonlea. They agree to be pen pals, and Diana decides to go to college too, so she and Anne can be roommates.

It is a bittersweet conclusion. When Anne and Gilbert finally reveal their love for one another is also when the series ends — viewers never truly get to witness their future together.

What happens to Gilbert in Anne with an E?

Gilbert decides to pursue medicine, a path that would take him away from Avonlea — adding another layer of complexity to his relationship with Anne. The two promise to write to each other while he is at the University of Toronto. His story ends full of potential but deliberately open-ended, with much source material remaining unexplored.

Fan reaction: petitions, celebrities, and campaigns

Fans set up a petition on Change.org that garnered over 1.7 million signatures — making it one of the largest fan petitions to save a cancelled show.

Celebrities joined the campaign too. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds called for Netflix to renew the show, tweeting: "You guys might want to renew Anne with an E. Unless 'final season' is just a fun way of saying 'halfway point'."

There were petitions, hashtag campaigns, and even big stars like Ryan Reynolds and Sam Smith joining the good fight on social media, but it was to no avail.

Producer Miranda de Pencier responded to the fan outcry on social media:

"There was 'no way' to revive Anne with an E" — and asked fans to hold onto the joy the show brought them.

Will there be an Anne with an E season 4?

Sadly, despite the petitions, the billboards, and the celebrity endorsements, there has been no movement on Anne with an E being renewed for season 4.

The show's creator, Moira Walley-Beckett, even teased a feature film to give the show a proper finale — but nothing has materialised. The CBC maintains its position not to involve itself in any co-production with Netflix.

The cast, meanwhile, has moved on. Amybeth McNulty, who played Anne Shirley, is known for her recurring role as Vickie in the Netflix sci-fi series Stranger Things (2022–2025).

Latest news

On 19 September 2026, Amybeth McNulty posted photos to mark the 10th anniversary of when filming on Anne with an E began — a reminder of how deeply the cast remain connected to the show.

For fans hungry for a new adaptation of the source material, there is some good news. Anne Shirley is a new anime series produced by The Answer Studio and directed by Hiroshi Kawamata. It aired on NHK Educational TV on 5 April 2025, and an English dub was released on Crunchyroll a couple of weeks later. It is based on the first three Anne of Green Gables novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is a wholly separate project from Anne with an E, but it signals continuing global appetite for Anne's story.

FAQs

1. Why was Anne with an E cancelled? The cancellation resulted from a combination of CBC ending its partnership with Netflix in October 2019, insufficient ratings among CBC's target demographic of 25–54-year-old viewers, and Netflix's own streaming economics.
2. Did Anne with an E end on a cliffhanger? Not entirely — Anne and Gilbert share a kiss and agree to write to each other, but many storylines, including Ka'kwet's fate at the residential school, were left open and unresolved.
3. Will there be an Anne with an E season 4? No season 4 has been confirmed. As of 2026, neither CBC nor Netflix has announced any plans to revive the show, and the co-production partnership between the two broadcasters has ended.
4. How many people signed the petition to save Anne with an E? Over 1.7 million people signed the Change.org petition — one of the largest fan-driven save-a-show campaigns in television history.
5. What happened to the cast after Anne with an E? Amybeth McNulty, who played Anne, went on to appear in Stranger Things (seasons 4 and 5) as Vickie. Lucas Jade Zumann, who played Gilbert Blythe, has continued working in film and television.
6. Did Moira Walley-Beckett try to save the show? Yes. She confirmed on Instagram that the creative team tried to change Netflix's mind, find a new home for the series on another network, and even explored the possibility of a finale film — none of which came to fruition.
7. Is there a new Anne of Green Gables adaptation available to watch? Yes. The anime series Anne Shirley premiered on NHK Educational TV in Japan on 5 April 2025, with an English dub available on Crunchyroll. It adapts the first three books in Lucy Maud Montgomery's series.
8. Why couldn't another network pick up Anne with an E? Netflix's standard contracts restrict cancelled shows from immediately seeking new networks after cancellation. Combined with CBC's public position against further Netflix co-productions, no alternative broadcaster stepped forward.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke