Although Netflix decided to renew GLOW for a fourth and final season in Sept. 2019, the streaming service recently reneged its decision due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

GLOW creators planned to make its fourth season the last one of the dramedy, wrapping up the adventures of the gorgeous ladies of wrestling in 10 final episodes. Production of the fourth season started in February, completing one episode before COVID-19 halted production in March. The surprising news of GLOW's cancelation was reported on Oct. 5 by THR.

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Sources cited that Netflix's reasoning to cancel the show was due to the cost of maintaining COVID-19 guidelines and the cast and crew's safety. Filming close contact shots proved impossible to do safely. Also, the physical exertion required from the actors would potentially put them at risk during the pandemic.

"We've made the difficult decision not to do a fourth season of GLOW due to COVID, which makes shooting this physically intimate show with its large ensemble cast especially challenging," said a Netflix employee. "We are so grateful to creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, Jenji Kohan and all the writers, cast and crew for sharing this story about the incredible women of GLOW with us and the world."

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Show creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch replied to the disappointing news with, "COVID has killed actual humans. It's a national tragedy and should be our focus. COVID also apparently took down our show. Netflix has decided not to finish filming the final season of GLOW. We were handed the creative freedom to make a complicated comedy about women and tell their stories. And wrestle. And now that's gone. There's a lot of shitty things happening in the world that are much bigger than this right now. But it still sucks that we don't get to see these 15 women in a frame together again. We'll miss our cast of weirdo clowns and our heroic crew. It was the best job."

Inspired by the short-lived wrestling series about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling from the '80s, GLOW was created by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch. The series stars Allison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Sydelle Noel, Britney Young, Marc Maron, Chris Lowell and Kia Stevens. Seasons 1, 2 and 3 of GLOW are currently streaming on Netflix.

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Source: THR