‘Atlanta’ Final Season: Why Donald Glover Wanted to End in Season 2
FX is planning to air two seasons of Atlanta in 2022. The long-awaited season 3 premieres March 24, and the fourth and final season is anticipated before the end of the year. Creator and star Donald Glover said he wanted to end the show after season 2. So, here’s why Glover was determined to make the Atlanta final season and why now was the right time.
Donald Glover was convinced not to make season 2 ‘Atlanta’s final season
Glover appeared on a Television Critics Association Zoom panel on Feb. 17. He shared why he started talking about ending Atlanta as early as season 2. He was talked out of it, but he’s committed to making season 4 Atlanta’s final season.
“I wanted to end it after season 2, and I think we had talked about that for a minute,” Glover said. “Death is, like, natural. I’ve been reading a lot of Thich Nhat Hanh, and I feel like, yeah, when the conditions are right for something, they happen. And when the conditions aren’t right for it, they don’t happen. So I don’t feel any sort of longevity.”
‘Atlanta’ came a long way before its final season
Atlanta premiered in 2016. Season 2 premiered in 2018 while Glover appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story. He’d always planned to take a break for season 3, but the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic increased the break. Filming seasons 3 and 4 back to back, Glover was ready for it to be Atlanta’s final season.
“I like things ending,” Glover said. “You can’t do too much. I feel like the story was always supposed to be what it was, and the story, it really was us. Like, everybody in that writers’ room, everybody on set, it really was what we were going through and what we talked about, and that’s the only way I like to make things.”
Glover said Atlanta’s final season reflects how far he and the show’s writers and cast have come in the six years since the show began.
I love the arguments we got into in the writers’ room. Some of the changes didn’t come until way after we were able to reconcile some of the stuff because, by Season 4, it was perfectly split, men and women in the room. We had big arguments about their relationship and what we want and why do people do and it was great. I think all of that came out in the season. So, I think it ends perfectly.”
Donald Glover hasn’t ruled out a revival
These days, even series finales are not final endings. Glover didn’t rule out bringing Atlanta back one day, but it wouldn’t be right away. Glover also expects his co-stars to be too busy and out of his price range now that they’re stars.
“If there’s a reason to do it, of course,” Glover said. “Like, a Christmas special. We won’t be able to get Zazie. She’ll be done with us by then. But, I mean, if people want to do it, if there’s a reason to do it, yeah, but it always depends. I like keeping my options open.”
