Renewal Status and What a New Season Would Mean
When fans ask about a new season of This Is Us, the most important first point is that the series finale aired in 2022, and NBC has not ordered new episodes beyond the sixth season. In this evergreen explainer, we outline how shows change after finales, what production timelines looked like at the end of the series, and how to interpret any future announcements. If a new season or limited event were ever to move from rumor to production, it would require a fresh greenlight, new writing rooms, and studio scheduling, which is rare for concluded network dramas. Below we break down the verified details, production patterns, and realistic timelines to set clear expectations.
No Active Production as of 2025
Since the series wrapped with Season 6 in 2022, there have been no announced scripts, cast or crew contracts, or studio development slots earmarked for additional seasons. Industry tracking sources such as IMDbPro and studio calendars show no active projects under the This Is Us name at Universal Television or NBC. This absence is common for legacy dramas once they reach their planned conclusion, even when fan demand remains high. Unless a new greenlight is officially announced, any discussion of a new season remains speculative.
Renewal History at a Glance
Understanding the show’s past renewal pattern helps contextualize how unlikely a new season would be without a formal announcement. The series was always planned as a finite six-season story on NBC, and each renewal came with clear season orders and air dates. Production timelines were consistent across seasons, with filming typically running several months ahead of broadcast. A summary of these verified milestones is below.
| Season | Episodes | Original Airdates | Renewal Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | September 2016 – May 2017 | Picked up after strong midseason debut |
| 2 | 18 | September 2017 – March 2018 | Renewed quickly after Season 1 success |
| 3 | 18 | September 2018 – March 2019 | Continued pattern of early renewals |
| 4 | 18 | September 2019 – March 2020 | Renewed with slight production delay due to world events |
| 5 | 16 | January 2020 – April 2021 | Shortened season amid pandemic, renewed for final season |
| 6 | 18 | June 2021 – May 2022 | Final season, story planned from series start |
Each season built on the previous one, with the writers’ room typically assembling months in advance. The move to a shorter Season 5 schedule reflected pandemic disruptions, while Season 6 was framed from the outset as the conclusion. This history illustrates a pattern of deliberate planning rather than open-ended continuation, which reinforces the status-based framing used throughout this explainer.
Production Timelines and What Delays Look Like
On shows that continue beyond final seasons, timelines shift based on studio planning, cast availability, and global events. For This Is Us, the final season wrapped filming in 2021 and aired in 2022. Industry standards suggest that if a new season were greenlit today, initial development would take several months, followed by a multi-month writing period, casting adjustments, and then preproduction and shooting. Given the scale of the cast and the show’s production values, a multi-year timeline would be typical. The table below summarizes estimated durations for each phase based on industry norms for similar dramas.
| Phase | Estimated Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Development & Greenlight | 6–18 months | Script orders, studio approval |
| Writers’ Room & Scripting | 6–12 months | Drafting and rewriting episodes |
| Preproduction & Casting | 2–4 months | Scheduling, location and crew planning |
| Principal Photography | 3–5 months | Filming 10–13 episodes |
| Postproduction & Music | 3–5 months | Editing, scoring, VFX |
| Marketing & Scheduling | 2–4 months | Trailers, premiere date lock |
These ranges are typical for high-quality ensemble dramas but can extend due to cast schedules or external factors. Because This Is Us has concluded, any new season would depend on a rare alignment of creative interest, studio priorities, and availability, which currently shows no active signal.
How to Interpret Rumors and Fan Hype
Social media and entertainment outlets periodically surface rumors about revivals or new seasons for concluded shows. When assessing these claims, focus on traceable signals: official announcements from NBC or Universal Television, writers’ room updates, and credible industry reporting. Until such sources confirm active development, treating any new season talk as status speculation is the most reliable approach. This explainer frames the conversation in status terms rather than rumor acceptance, giving you a factual baseline to compare future claims.
Practical Steps if a New Season Is Announced
If you want to stay prepared for any future announcement, focus on signals that move a project from rumor to reality. Monitor official channels first, including NBC press releases and statements from Universal Television. Industry trade outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter will report concrete developments, such as script orders or director attachments. Below is a simple checklist you can use to evaluate credible signals versus speculation.
- Check the studio and network press pages for formal announcements.
- Look for verified reporting from multiple industry sources before treating news as likely.
- Notice whether timelines and production roles are named, which indicates real planning.
- Understand that fan campaigns and online petitions may drive awareness but rarely trigger renewals on their own.
Key Terms to Understand
Status clarity becomes easier once you know a few standard industry terms. A series finale means the creators intended the story to end, and revivals require new greenlighting just like any new show. Renewals and pickups refer to additional seasons approved by a network, while development indicates early script or planning activity. Production timelines involve writing, preproduction, filming, and postproduction phases, each with distinct milestones. Holding this vocabulary in mind helps you separate firm status updates from forward-looking possibilities when discussing This Is Us or similar concluded dramas.