Netflix has officially canceled The Residence. Discover the real reason this White House-set mystery series won’t hit your screens.What has gotten into Netflix?
It has been announced that The Residence, the highly anticipated White House murder mystery drama executive produced by Shonda Rhimes and her powerhouse Shondaland production company, has been cancelled, leaving fans and industry insiders in a state of shock. Imagine the hype that was generated by the formidable creative team and salivating premise of the political-thriller series, and that we will never see it, despite it already having been filmed!
What was The Residence about?
The Residence was a murder mystery series set in the glamorous yet pressure-cooker environment of the White House. The series was based loosely on the 2015 nonfiction book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower. The Residence promised a fictionalized look inside one of the world’s most powerful and secretive residences.
However, instead of a “presidents and politics” narrative, The Residence promised a different perspective – as a murder mystery told through the eyes of the supporting staff – maids, butlers, chefs, florists, etc. – all would be with their own secrets, biases, and motivations.
Who Was Involved in The Residence?
This was not just some random streaming drama – The Residence had everything right:
Shonda Rhimes (Bridgerton, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy) as Executive Producer.
Paul William Davies (Scandal, For the People) as showrunner/writer.
Liza Johnson (The Last of Us, Dead to Me) as lead director.
Outstanding cast including:
Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black) as the lead detective.
Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine).
Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat).
Ken Marino, Molly Griggs, Barrett Foa, and Susan Kelechi Watson.
Why Netflix Canceled The Residence
It is rare for Netflix to cancel a series like The Residence after it was shot, but it is not unheard of. According to several industry sources, the reason for the cancellation relates to a creative change of direction and a cost to performance of content assessment.
The reasons reported are as follows:
Creative Differences and Tone Issues
Although the idea seemed interesting, sources indicate that it was felt that the pilot final cut did not approach the tonal balance that Netflix was hoping for.
The series appeared to struggle finding uniformity in tone somewhere between comedy, drama, and murder mystery, which created confusion during backstage test screenings.
Post-Strike Budget Review
Following the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Netflix (and other streamers) were reviewing high-cost productions.
With The Residence estimated at $15-20 million per episode, Netflix probably decided it was too risky.
Quality Control in Post Production
Netflix has become more choosy over what went up on its platform.
According to insiders, when our full series saw the light of day, the executives felt they did not believe it would perform well on their platform – and thus was not interested in a marketing push or reshoots.
Shondaland streaming success is mixed
Thus far, Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte have been international hits – whereas other Shondaland efforts (like Inventing Anna, For the People) had mixed reviews and even more mixed performances.
Netflix may be recalibrating its relationship with Shondaland, and perhaps there is a narrowing of focus back down to surefire hits like Bridgerton and make Bridgerton Season 4.
What becomes of Reduzent?
At present, and as of June 2025, Netflix is not looking to do anything with The Residence – despite the fact that the episodes were reportedly completed and fully cut.
This means:
No trailer
No sneak peeks
No limited release.
Unless another network or even a streamer buys the rights (a possibility, but not a definite), then The Residence will be a title to the long-laying list of shelved programming, like Warner Bros. canceled Batgirl feature, or even Showtime Three Women whose rights were picked up by Starz recently.
What Does This Mean for Shondaland on Netflix?
Shondaland’s $100 million+ deal with Netflix was done as one of the biggest entertainment deals in streaming history.
So far, they have produced:
Bridgerton Seasons 1-3
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Inventing Anna
Why Fans Are So Disappointed
For good reasons, TV lovers were anticipating The Residence:
A new, diverse cast
A rare mystery in the White House
A strong female detective at the lead
An insight to the power, drama, and secrets of one of the world’s best-known buildings
To cancelled this show to that extent, without releasing a pilot, is a great way to squander an opportunity—inside Netflix and for viewers alike—that purportedly marks bold storytelling.
Could The Residence Still Be Saved?
Here is the good news: there is precedent for shows that have been shelved to be resurrected.
For example:
Minx: canceled at HBO Max, picked up by Starz
One Day at a Time: revived by Pop TV after Netflix cancelled it
Girls5Eva: moved from Peacock to Netflix
So all hope is not lost. If enough people are screaming— or if a competitor sees something worth taking a chance on—The Residence could get a new lease on life.
The Residence was supposed to be the next prestige pivot something separate from period romance and scandalous biographies.
A Warning Legend of the Streaming Age
The cancellation of The Residence highlights the randomness of the streaming wars.
What we have learned:
Not even a show produced by Shonda Rhimes is safe.
The challenges of creatively taking risks, even amid reputable names, will still mean scrutiny in a post-strike world.
The streamers are returning to focusing on deal ROI instead of the creative aspiration.
As the streamers continue to adjust their spending priorities, and allow big budget productions like The Residence to exist in an industry where completing a project does not mean it ever gets released.
FAQs
Why did Netflix cancel The Residence?
Reported after canceling The Residence that Netflix had creative concerns about the project, and tonal inconsistencies were partly responsible. Netflix also had concerns about whether a project of that cost would be successful in a premium TV vein.
Was The Residence fully filmed?
Yes, the project had completed filming and post-production before Netflix decided to bury the project.
Who was the lead actor in The Residence?
Uzo Aduba was to star as the eccentric detective exploring the White House murder mystery.
Will The Residence ever be released?
Currently, no, but pending it is purposed by another network or streamer, there is a chance it will be.
Is this the first time Netflix has canceled a finished show? No. Although it is rare, the streaming service has canceled completed shows in the past, including the animated adaptation of Bone and some international se