Hannah Waddingham’s Prime Video Action Series Cancellation Gets Official Response From Co-Star

Published Sep 21, 2026, 6:52 PM EDT

Matthew Rudoy is one of ScreenRant's Movie & TV News Editors. He covers the latest in movie & TV news, with a focus on major franchises like Star Wars, The Boys, and Game of Thrones, and also writes some features and reviews. He wrote lists for ScreenRant from 2017-2022, became a news writer in 2023, a senior staff writer in 2024, and an editor in 2025. 

The road has come to an end for Prime Video's Ride or Die.

In the spy action comedy series, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham plays international assassin Judith Burton, whose best friend, Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer), doesn't know about her secret profession. That changes when a hit goes wrong and the duo are forced to go on the run while being hunted by deadly forces. On September 19, it was reported that Ride or Die had been canceled after one season, although co-producing studio Paramount Television Studios is shopping the show to other potential buyers.

On Instagram, Spencer responded to the cancellation, first joking that the past weekend was an ideal time to get sick given the news, before going on to express gratitude for the experience of making the show and thanking numerous individuals involved with it, including series creator Tessa Coates. She also thanked the women who resonated with the stories of Debbie and Judith. Check out Spencer's full response below:

Apparently, THIS was the best weekend for me to get sick because, well, distractions! I hope every creative out there gets to have the incredible experience that I’ve had bringing this project to life with the unwavering support from Skydance/Paramount these past three years. Matt Thunell, Dana, Shelley, and Blair thank you. Barbara and Double Dream thank you! Projects like this shouldn’t be the exception, they should be rule! For all the women out there who felt seen, laughed out loud, lived out loud with Debbie and Judith, thank you. This was a fun one! Thank you Tessa Coates! Massive thank you to you, Jen Salke! You’ve always had exquisite taste!

Several actors not involved with the series, but who were fans of the show, responded in the comments section, emphasizing how much they enjoyed the show and how disappointed they were by the cancellation. Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter replied, "They’re insane. Biggest hit prime has had in a minute." Star Wars actor Daisy Ridley wrote, "LOVE this show!!!" Disney's Halloweentown star Kimberly J. Brown was taken aback by the news, but is hopeful for the future: "Such a fantastic show so this news was mind blowing. It better find another home bc I want a season 2."

As indicated by these comments, the cancellation came as a surprise because the reception was overwhelmingly positive, leading to a 96% score from critics and 85% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. In ScreenRant's Ride or Die review, Dani Kessel Odom gave the show seven out of 10 stars, providing specific praise for the relationship and dynamic between the two main characters: "Judith and Debbie’s dedication to one another makes Ride or Die just as emotional as it is thrilling."

In addition to the positive response from critics and audiences, the series performed well according to the data that has been made public. It was number 1 on Prime Video's global streaming chart for three consecutive weeks and, after just two days, received 927,000 views and was on Luminate's weekly U.S. rankings.

Comparatively, the Legally Blonde prequel Elle had 477,000 views in its first two days and was number one on the streamer's global chart for two weeks. Off Campus had the top spot for five weeks, but only landed 245,000 views in its first two days, and Every Year After had 217,000 views during days one and two. Nevertheless, Elle, Off Campus, and Every Year After are all returning for another season. According to Deadline, Ride or Die was even Prime Video's most-watched new scripted series in the U.S. from July 30, 2025, to July 29, 2026.

While the story of Ride Or Die season 1 was mostly wrapped up, there was a clear setup and some unresolved storylines poised to carry over into a second season. Along with Waddingham and Spencer, who were executive producers on the series, the cast features Ed Skrein, Calam Lynch, Savannah Steyn, Jamie Parker, Sylvia Hoeks, Bill Nighy, Jacky Ido, and Cathy Tyson.

All episodes of Ride or Die are streaming on Prime Video.