A Porn Website Offered ‘Sense8’ a Full Season 3 Renewal
The announcement of a Sense8 finale offered some relief from the sting of cancellation, but surely a full third season is off the table, right? Perhaps not, as porn website xHamster is tossing its hat (and presumably other clothing) into the ring to host a third season of the Netflix drama.
xHamster reached out to Sense8 creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski with an offer to partner on a full third season of the globe-spanning sci-fi series, rather than the scheduled conclusion in development for Netflix next year. The offer is in fact to continue the series as-is, rather than draft some sort of porn parody. In particular, the letter implies that xHamster would match the (notably large) Netflix budget, and offer greater freedom for the show’s diverse depiction of sexuality:
xHamster is currently one of the most trafficked websites on the internet. We get more visitors daily than the New York Times, ESPN, or the Daily Mail. In short, we have the eyeballs and the revenue. Unlike with Netflix, you wouldn’t be competing for part of our production budget – it would be yours.
We also have the disposition. We know that a series about polymorphous perversity is a hard sell for a mainstream network like Netflix. We have no such limitations, and also understand implicitly the interconnectedness of sexualities across boundaries. In short, we are a we.
xHamster has a long history of fighting for the rights of sexual speech, and non-normative sexuality. In addition to allowing billions of users to connect with individual articulations of gender and sexuality, we continue to use our audience to speak up against repressive anti-LGBTQ laws in the US and abroad, and for sex-ed in public schools Planned Parenthood and the rights of sex workers.
Lest you think the website made the offer tongue-in-cheek, we reached out to xHamster for additional clarification. Vice President Alex Hawkins told us they were aware of the potential hurdles and stigma, but nonetheless genuine with the idea:
We’re huge admirers of the show, as are many of our fans. Obviously, for both us and the Wachowskis this would be a big move, and the logistics would need to be worked out. This isn’t just about switching a network, this is about switching the way a show is delivered, and thus how the show is produced and what is produced. Does it open up possibilities for the storyline if the show is moved away from a mainstream corporation and onto a platform that’s not sex-phobic? Does a mainstream audience feel comfortable moving to a platform known for adult?
What we admire about the Wachowskis, and about the show itself is that it takes risks. I think that we’re a nascent network, and I’d love to hear what they would do with us.
We’ve reached out to Sense8 representation for comment on the offer, and will update with any news. Should the series press on with Season 3 in a new, albeit unorthodox home, or will next year’s two-hour finale serve as better send-off?