One of the best crime dramas of the past decade is, without a doubt, also one of TV’s most underrated series. Kin is a show that I will forever admire for its slick, slow-burning storytelling rooted in some strong and gritty, atmospheric tension. As one of the more stylish crime dramas of recent years, the Irish production received critical acclaim when it first aired on RTÉ One and AMC+. But as a series that meticulously weaves an engaging tale of family, betrayal, and power in an unforgiving underworld, it’s a travesty that the show isn’t returning for Season 3 — at least, according to recent comments from one of the series’ leads, Charlie Cox.
After The Standard claimed earlier this winter that the moody Irish gangland series was renewed for another chapter, it seems that’s just not true. It’s a hard reality I’m just not ready to hear, but Cox revealed it exclusively to Collider in a recent sit-down for an in-depth Collider Signature profile releasing Wednesday, stating that the criminally overlooked series is not returning despite those reports stating otherwise. And worst of all, it all has to do with some very messy licensing agreements following Bron Studios’ bankruptcy.
Helping to set the record straight and debunking rumors that surfaced in February about Kin getting ready to shoot for Season 3, Cox gets into the challenges surrounding Kin’s future and how heartbreaking the situation is for him, too. As much as fans want to know what happens after Frank (Aiden Gillen) finally kills the monster that is Bren (Francis Magee) — and ultimately takes his own life — it seems like the story has reached its natural conclusion. This means we might never know if Jimmy (Emmett J. Scanlan) and Michael, played by Cox, will ever find common ground again, especially after Jimmy’s estranged wife Amanda (Clare Dunne) reveals she’s pregnant following a night with Michael.
Charlie Cox Reveals ‘Kin’ Season 3 Is Not Returning

While speaking with Collider about Daredevil: Born Again, Cox addressed The Standard’s report of a third season, quickly shutting down any further speculation. “I don’t think that’s true,” Cox says when asked about the potential return, his face scrunching up in disappointment. “I don’t know the ins and outs, but I don’t believe that that is true. I’d love for that to be the case. I think the licensing difficulties may make it impossible at this point, because there was a lot of stuff after COVID, where the ownership of the show is confusing. So, sadly, I don’t think that’s correct.”
For fans of the show, the news is undoubtedly disappointing. I’ve never seen a crime drama quite like Kin. With a prestige level of writing that feels like something on HBO alongside The Wire or The Sopranos, the Peter McKenna and Ciaran Donnelly series was a rare gem in a saturated landscape of family crime dramas. While so many crime dramas are centered on male-dominated power dynamics, Kin was a breath of fresh air, putting complex female characters, like Amanda, into the mix as leaders. Not to mention, one of my favorite parts of the show was the emotional weight these characters held, like Amanda or even Cox’s Michael as the reluctant antihero balancing the hardened criminal life while also trying to be a father again.
Across two seasons and 16 episodes, Kin’s cancellation is a loss to the TV zeitgeist. Having binged the show twice, it feels like the story could be complete in its own painful way, especially after Frank’s devastating choices and the unraveling of the Kinsella family in those final moments of Season 2. But it’s even more heartbreaking to know, with all the legal challenges and confusion around ownership, this might be the actual end of the complex Kinsellas.
‘Kin’s Licensing Struggles Behind the Scenes

Image via RTÉ, AMC+

What makes Kin’s cancellation even harder to stomach is that it wasn’t about a lack of audience interest or poor ratings. In fact, Kin was a standout series, scoring fresh scores on Rotten Tomatoes for both its seasons — 100 and 89 percent, respectively. The real tragedy is that after the show’s sophomore season aired on RTÉ One and AMC+, Kin was dealing with major financial difficulties, including the bankruptcy of Bron Studios — the company behind the series and other major features, like Joker and Licorice Pizza. This financial collapse led to a standstill in production and a freeze of its commercial assets, further complicating the possibility of a third season.
With the company going bankrupt, there are no longer guaranteed funds to produce the show for the next season. Even if RTÉ and AMC would like to continue the series, which I’m hoping they would, it’s going to be a lot trickier. Not to mention, in the industry post-SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, the risks would include finding new financiers to replace Bron’s investments, renegotiating the cast’s contracts since many would be free agents at this time, and resolving any licensing issues since AMC has partial rights, as does Netflix overseas.
What ‘Kin’ Season 3 Could Have Looked Like

Already, The Sun reported that the show was looking “less likely” to happen as the props went on sale, flagging continuity nightmares for any type of production. But this could also mean the show can recenter its focus and pick up years later, if necessary. With Amanda and Jimmy splitting up, she could happily (to an extent, of course) raise her child with Michael, who would have inevitably worked through the issues he had with his daughter, Anna (Hannah Adeogun).
Birdy (Maria Doyle Kennedy) would likely be a mess after her little brother, Frank, took his own life after murdering their very abusive, older brother, Bren — but maybe she finally moved out of Ireland like she dreamed. And maybe Eric (Sam Keeley) would get on the wrong side of the tracks, knowing what he’s like — isolating himself after his father Frank’s death. Considering Amanda’s debt arrangement with the Turks following the finale, could things have gone awry years later?
Yes, I’m wishfully thinking of more. How could you not at this point? Despite these setbacks, Cox admits he was “very proud” of the show, and he should be. It gained significant popularity with its sophomore season, breaking records on both linear and streaming platforms, according to RTÉ.

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“We made that for about $11. I mean, it’s really amazing what we achieved. Great acting, but huge, huge credit to Peter McKenna, the writer and showrunner. He is a massive, massive talent,” he tells Collider. “Actually, my wife [Samantha Thomas] and I have started a production company, and we have a script that we’ve developed with him that he’s written that we’re trying to sell at the moment. So, my hope is that I get to do another show with Peter.”
The financial struggles and licensing issues have tragically left the future of Kin uncertain, and with no clear resolution to the cliffhanger at the end of Season 2, fans will forever be wondering if the Kinsella family’s story will ever continue. But even though Kin won’t be returning, Cox credits the team for creating something truly special. “What everyone achieved on that budget is nothing short of miraculous,” he says.
Kin is streaming on AMC+, and stay tuned to Collider for our exclusive Collider Signature profile with Charlie Cox.

Kin

Release Date

2021 – 2022

Network

RTÉ One

Directors

Felix Thompson, Tessa Hoffe, Diarmuid Goggins, Joseph Lawlor, Christine Molloy

Writers

Ciaran Donnelly