The Emmy Award-winning HBO series Succession will come to an end with its upcoming fourth season. Creator and showrunner Jesse Armstrong revealed that he wanted to try to keep the show going, but eventually made the hard decision to end the show’s story.
In an interview with The New Yorker, Armstrong said that he liked the idea that season four would be where the show would come to a close because he believes that the audience would be able to enjoy the show more without worrying about when the show would come to an end. So having the knowledge that the series is ending would give viewers some sort of peace and their minds would just focus on the show and not be distracted by the behind-the-scenes.
“We could have said it as soon as I sort of decided, almost when we were writing it, which I think would be weird and perverse. We could have said it at the end of the season. I quite like that idea, creatively, because then the audience is just able to enjoy everything as it comes, without trying to figure things out, or perceiving things in a certain way once they know it’s the final season. But, also, the countervailing thought is that we don’t hide the ball very much on the show. I feel a responsibility to the viewership, and I personally wouldn’t like the feeling of, “Oh, that’s it, guys. That was the end.” I wouldn’t like that in a show. I think I would like to know it is coming to an end.”
He compared his decision to someone reading a book. You know when the story will finish, and as the creator of the show, he wanted to ensure that the ending of the show would land. He wants to reassure his fans that the finale isn’t a dud, nor leave them feeling that the Roys have overstayed their welcome.
“And, as an author, you might wish to not have that, so that the ending could land. But really the ending needs to work on its own merits. You can’t hope to pull the rug in that way. I hope that no one ever thinks that we are outstaying our welcome—that we’re going to do a dud season, or be stretching it out. I hope those concerns never occur to people.”
Before he decided to end the show, he talked about Succession‘s future with his writing team. He considered other options, such as giving the show a few more seasons. But in the end, the writing of season four solidified the show’s end.
“I sort of said, “Look, I think this maybe should be it. But what do you think?” And we played out various scenarios: We could do a couple of short seasons, or two more seasons…
“… I went into the writing room for Season 4 sort of saying, “I think this is what we’re doing, but let’s also keep it open.” I like operating the writing room by coming in with a sort of proposition, and then being genuinely open to alternative ways of going. And the decision to end solidified through the writing and even when we started filming.”
Despite Succession being listed as one of HBO’s most successful series, there aren’t any plans as of yet for the show to receive a spin-off. In an interview with Variety, HBO Max’s Content CEO Casey Bloys doesn’t see a side-story worth telling from any of the other characters, and it all comes down if Armstrong is down to do so.
“It doesn’t seem to me that there’s something in ‘Succession’ where you would go, ‘Let’s follow just this kid’ or whatever. It doesn’t seem like a natural thing to me. But if [creator Jesse Armstrong] said I want to do this, then I would follow Jesse’s lead.”
A trailer for Succession season four was released back in late January 2023, hinting at a future clash between Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his three children. Season four will premiere on March 26, 2023, on HBO Max.
