Starz’s White Princess, based on Philippa Gregory’s novel, follows the lives of Princess Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII and the rise of the House of Tudor.
Though the network has not yet made an announcement about the fate of White Princess, it was originally released as a limited series, and it’s likely that the show will not be returning for a second season. The White Queen, Starz’s last English historical drama (also based on a Philippa Gregory novel), also lasted only one season.
Lizzie tried to give The Boy an out but he just didn’t take it. #TheWhitePrincess
Season one of the show averaged a .21 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 777,000 viewers. For comparison, the network’s top-rated show, Power, averaged a .89 in the 18-49 demographic and 1.938 million viewers. The ratings have also declined as time has gone on, suggesting the series is likely coming to an end.
If Starz does decide to renew the series, they will have a lot of history to draw from. Tonight’s finale will possibly end with Elizabeth’s death in 1503, but if it does not, season 2 could focus on the last few remaining years of her life. As noted by Blasting News, Lizzie and Henry have not yet experienced the deaths of their elder sun Arthur and the birth and death of their youngest daughter, Katherine, and season 2 could focus on that aspect of their lives.
HBO’s Big Little Lies is an example of a limited series that was intended for just one season. It’s explosive ratings, however, have led people to think it’ll be coming back, though. In early May, Reese Witherspoon posted an Instagram photo featuring Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern, and the caption read, “Spending #SundayFunday with these ladies … working on some new lies ???.” An official season two has not yet been confirmed, but it seems likely given the buzz.
If White Princess receives blowout ratings tonight, it’s possible Starz could push for another season of the show. For now, we’ll just have to wait.