Lucha Underground Executive Producer Unsure If Season 5 Will Happen
The season 4 of Lucha Underground wrapped up tonight with part two of Ultima Lucha Cuatro. When the show returns for a fifth season remains a mystery.
Appearing on Masks, Mats & Mayhem, Executive Producer Eric Van Wagenen discussed a potential fifth season and how it’s not something they’ve discussed with the El Rey Network as of yet.
“I don’t know anything about season 5. Those conversations usually happen a month or so after we go off the air. We survive as El Rey survives,” said Van Wagenen. “We need them to be a success and be able to afford to do the show. We reached the tipping point budget wise. We’ve gone as low as we can go. I don’t know if we would try and replicate the business model of season 4 again. So it becomes a question of, can we do season 5 without it being cheaper and faster and all the other things? Season 5, if we do it, will be a major reboot. Cast-wise, on a lot of levels we’ll be looking to reboot season 5.”
Van Wagen continued, noting that MGM is happy with the show and that they do this “wait-and-see” dance with El Rey after every season.
“MGM is still really…they’re still very happy with it and want to keep doing it. There are discussions going on at MGM about additional lucha libre related programming and IP. I don’t think it’s going away, I just don’t think it’s going to sit in this survival mode. Maybe we look at taking on another partner that brings something different,” he said. “Nobody is saying ‘it’s dead.’ There’s just not a huge hustle to get it on the air right now. That’s normal. That always happens. Once we’re off the air, and El Rey starts to miss us, then the talks pick up in earnest.”
The future of Lucha Underground is discussed after every season. The producers and talent are seemingly never sure if there will be another season following the conclusion of the current season. Fortunately for wrestling fans, the show has lived despite very little assurances from season to season.
If you missed tonight’s season 4 finale, head over to Fightful’s full report.