After just three seasons on the air, A&E has canceled “Longmire,” its highest rated original drama series of all time, reports Deadline‘s Nellie Andreeva.
Based on the Walt Longmire Mystery novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson, the series followed its central character, Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor, “The Matrix”), the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. It co-starred “As The World Turns” alum Bailey Chase (ex-Chris Hughes) as Branch Connally, a deputy with political aspirations.
“We would like to thank the phenomenal cast, crew and producers of ‘Longmire,’ along with our partners at Warner Horizon, for their tireless work on three seasons of quality dramatic storytelling,” A&E said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.”
With an average of 4.6 million viewers tuning in during its third season, down from the 6 million it averaged in season one, Warner Horizon plans to shop the series elsewhere.
The series also starred Lou Diamond Phillips (“Numb3rs”), Katee Sackhoff (“Battlestar Gallactica”), Cassidy Freeman (“Smallville”) and Adam Bartley (“Criminal Minds”).