Supernatural prequel and Kung Fu get unfortunate updates on their futures

Supernatural prequel series The Winchesters and Kung Fu are no more.

After just one and three seasons respectively, it's been confirmed via The Hollywood Reporter that The CW network is discontinuing these shows as new owner Nexstar cuts down on its scripted content.

A statement read: "As we reimagine the new CW, we had to make some tough programming decisions. We thank our partners at Warner Bros. and the casts and creative teams of Kung Fu and The Winchesters for all their hard work, creativity and dedication."

Related: Kung Fu star Olivia Liang was left "sobbing" over season 2 finale twist

It's been a ruthless few days for the network, as only this week was it revealed that Walker: Independence would be bowing out too.

Despite the solid popularity of mother show Walker – The CW's most-watched linear title – the spin-off only generated 440,000 live same-day viewers for its first season finale.

The Winchesters boss Robbie Thompson will be particularly disappointed to learn of his show's fate, given those hopes for a massive Supernatural-verse expansion.

Related: Supernatural's Jensen Ackles breaks down shocking twist in The Winchesters finale

"We really thought that if we did this the right way, you could really open up the Supernatural universe for a whole lot of stories," he suggested back in March.

"There's so many more stories to tell and death has never, ever stopped those characters."

Ackles reprised the role of Dean in the season finale, while Supernatural's Ruth Connell also returned as Rowena earlier this year.

"If there is any opportunity to bring anybody back from the mothership, we will absolutely do so," said Ackles. "We will write to that. We have names that are on the table of like, 'How can we get to this [person in a way] that makes sense?'"

The Winchesters, Kung Fu and Walker: Independence all aired on The CW in the US.

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Dan Seddon

Reporter, Digital Spy 

Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment. 

In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.