THIS IS US — “The Music and the Mirror” Episode 514 — Pictured in this screengrab: Mandy Moore as Rebecca.
"This Is Us" is preparing to say goodbye.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, season six will be the drama's last, and NBC is preparing to make the official announcement on Friday when the network reveals its 2021-2022 schedule. While the news might feel like a surprise for one of the biggest shows on network TV, the end has always been on the horizon.
Creator Dan Fogelman has long claimed he had the series finale planned out, and revealed all the way back in 2018 that some scenes from the series finale had already been shot.
"We have a story to tell and we want to do this the right way," he said on an FYC panel for the show. Based on reactions from the cast, Milo Ventimiglia knew about the plan for the series finale and Chris Sullivan did not.
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NBC renewed the series for seasons four, five and six back in 2019, and sources told THR at that point that season six would likely be the last. Fogelman had also previously called season three the "midpoint" of the series, so the writing has been on the wall for a long time.
The show has also been giving us hints of a future that now feel like a potential series finale. We know that in about 10 years, the Pearsons gather at Kevin's (Justin Hartley) home to visit with Rebecca (Mandy Moore), who appears to be very sick. We've spent the last two seasons slowly learning how the family gets to that point, as Rebecca deals with the early stages of Alzheimer's and Kevin begins building his family and getting acquainted with his uncle Nicky (Griffin Dunne).
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Presumably, the final season will take us all the way to that future gathering.
NBC had no comment on the THR report.
"This Is Us" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Keep up with all the renewal and cancellation news about your favorite shows by scrolling down.
Canceled: "Prodigal Son" (Fox)
Fox has said goodbye to "Prodigal Son" after two seasons.
Renewed: "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
After months of making us worry, ABC has renewed "Grey's Anatomy" for a season 18.
Renewed: Station 19 (ABC)
"Grey's Anatomy" spinoff "Station 19" will return for a fifth season on ABC.
Renewed: "Call Me Kat" (Fox)
Fox has renewed Mayim Bialik's cat cafe comedy for a second season.
Canceled: "A Little Late With Lilly Singh" (NBC)
"A Little Late With Lilly Singh" is ending after two seasons on NBC. The final new episode will air on Thursday, June 3.
Canceled: "The Irregulars" (Netflix)
One and done. Netflix canceled "The Irregulars" after only one season in May 2021.
Renewed: "Big Sky" (ABC)
ABC's drama thriller "Big Sky" will return for season two.
Renewed: "Ginny & Georgia" (Netflix)
"Ginny & Georgia" will return for a second season on Netflix.
Renewed: "NCIS" (CBS)
"NCIS" will return to CBS for a 19th season, with star Mark Harmon in tow.
Renewed: "Blue Bloods" (CBS)
CBS has officially ordered a 12th season of family cop show "Blue Bloods."
Renewed: "Magnum P.I." (CBS)
CBS is welcoming a season four for its "Magnum P.I." reboot.
Renewed: "S.W.A.T."
"S.W.A.T." will officially be returning for a fifth season on CBS.
Renewed: "Bull" (CBS)
CBS has officially renewed "Bull" for a sixth season.
Renewed: "Bridgerton" (Netflix)
All the ton's aflutter due to the fact that "Bridgerton" will be back on Netflix for not just a season two, but a season three and a season four as well.
Renewed: "Project Runway" (Bravo)
"Project Runway" will return for season 19, with Christian Siriano, Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth and Brandon Maxwell all returning. Host Karlie Kloss will make guest appearances as the show goes into production in New York this spring.
Renewed: "Duncanville" (Fox)
Fox has renewed the animated comedy "Duncanville" for a third season.
Canceled: "Bless the Harts"
After two seasons, animated comedy "Bless the Harts" will not be returning to Fox.
Renewed: "Young Sheldon" (CBS)
On Tuesday, March 30, CBS renewed "Young Sheldon" for three more seasons. This means the Iain Armitage-led series will run at least until 2024.
Canceled: "American Gods" (Starz)
On Monday, March 29, Starz confirmed that season three of "American Gods," which ended on March 21, would be its last.
Renewed: "Mr. Mayor" (NBC)
Ted Danson will return as the mayor of Los Angeles for a second season on NBC.
Canceled: "World of Dance" (NBC)
Almost a year after the season four premiere, NBC confirmed to Deadline the dance competition series will not be returning for a fifth season.
Renewed: "Outlander" (Starz)
In March 2021, it was announced that Starz renewed "Outlander" for a seventh season. The new season order, which will feature 12 episodes, comes as the period drama is filming its sixth season.
Renewed: "Selling Sunset" (Netflix)
Netflix has renewed "Selling Sunset" for both a fourth and a fifth season. Season four is currently in production.
Renewed: "Bling Empire" (Netflix)
"Bling Empire" will return for a second season on Netflix.
Ending: "Queen of the South" (USA)
"Queen of the South" will end after its fifth season, which will include 10 episodes and premieres April 7 on USA Network.
Ending: "Kim's Convenience" (Netflix/CBC)
Despite a renewal through season six, the Canadian comedy (which airs on Netflix in the U.S.) will end with the upcoming season five after the departure of creators Ins Choi and Kevin White.
Ending: "Pose" (FX)
"Pose" will come to an end after its upcoming third season, which will consist of seven episodes and premiere on May 2.
Renewed: Superman & Lois (The CW)
After just one very highly rated premiere episode, The CW has renewed "Superman & Lois" for a season two.
Ending: "Younger" (TVLand/Paramount+)
"Younger" is moving to Paramount+ for its seventh and final season, which will consist of 12 episodes.
Renewed: "Fate: The Winx Saga" (Netflix)
Netflix has renewed "Fate: The Winx Saga" for a second season.
