More TV series to come for League of Legends universe
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill clarified that Arcane won’t be receiving a third season, as the team aims to explore other stories within the League of Legends universe.
This decision dispels speculation that Riot is scaling back its entertainment efforts. Merrill emphasized that Arcane was always intended to conclude after two seasons.
Despite being among the most expensive animated productions ever made, Arcane has been a massive success. Both its first and second seasons dominated Netflix charts, captivating both long-time fans and newcomers with the depth of the League of Legends lore.
While some fans expressed disappointment over the lack of a third season, Merrill explained the rationale behind the decision in response to a fan’s query, stating simply, “Cuz there are lots of other stories to tell.”
With the vast narrative potential of League of Legends’ expansive world, this shift in focus opens up new possibilities for storytelling. Merrill also hinted at increased investment in the game’s lore if the team can meet the high standards they’ve set.
Acknowledging that League of Legends’ in-game storytelling still trails behind Arcane, such investments would likely resonate with the player base. Merrill further expressed optimism for future TV projects set in the League universe, sharing insights in a Variety interview.
“Our ambitions in entertainment haven’t changed. We were never intending to operate like a traditional studio with traditional timelines.”
“We realized that getting it right takes a lot more time than we’d originally expected, and so we recalibrated our development, output goals, and teams with that in mind.”
He urged fans to disregard concerns about Arcane’s production costs affecting Riot’s ability to create more series. The door remains open for new shows in the League of Legends world, though they may take time.
Addressing rumors of Arcane spanning three to five seasons, Merrill clarified that these stemmed from internal discussions on potential budgets rather than actual plans. He reiterated that Arcane was designed to be a two-season story from the start.
“Just like making games that are worthy of players time / love is really hard, so too is telling great stories and making incredible shows/films.”