Sons of Anarchy has officially been dropped from the Netflix library. While Netflix gave no official reason behind the removal of a series that's been a staple of its catalog for some time, some had theories regarding why it was dropped. Kurt Sutter confirmed that speculation on Twitter, bringing any confused parties into the loop on why Sons of Anarchy was removed and Mayans M.C. won't be arriving on the service.
The simple explanation why SOA is no longer on Netflix and neither will Mayans...The Disney/Fox deal was about creating a competing streaming platform. That is the future of TV. Although it will take a minute to launch, F/D's content is their biggest asset in the marketplace.
Kurt Sutter confirmed that the big reason Sons of Anarchy was removed from Netflix was another jab between it and Disney as the launch of Disney+ looms ever closer. Disney's acquiring of Fox programming means it now owns the rights to Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C., so one can expect neither will arrive back on Netflix anytime soon -- if ever.
Sons of Anarchy's removal from Netflix comes after what's been a bloodbath in terms of Netflix shows that are affiliated with the Disney brand. Netflix has canceled three of its Marvel shows, with many speculating the remaining two will be canceled following their new seasons. The moves appear to be mostly motivated by Disney+'s potential as a major competitor for Netflix, as reports have surfaced alleging Daredevil was one of its top 5 shows at the time of cancellation.
Meanwhile, Netflix subscribers are suffering. That said, those with multiple subscriptions to various streaming services may be in luck, as there are outlets for folks to watch Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C. on streaming. Kurt Sutter mentioned all the other places cord cutters can catch episodes without Netflix.
You can still watch FX shows on FXNow, Hulu and Amazon. At least, for now...I know it doesn't help if you only have Netflix, but in this ever-changing digital landscape, we are doing our fucking best to get content on as many streaming sources as possible. Sorry it's wack.
Kurt Sutter added a foreboding "for now" to his tweet, which makes it sound as though there will be a point where those outlets lose their streaming privileges as well. One would imagine Disney+ will eventually add Sons of Anarchy and other Fox programming to its library, although it's not been something Disney has made a priority to explain. Instead, the brand has teased two live-action Star Wars series, MCU-related adventures, and a third Sister Act movie.
Even if Sons of Anarchy is a day one add for Disney+, there are still a community of consumers concerned about committing to yet another streaming service to catch their favorite shows. Buying physical copies of seasons is still an option, luckily, which some pointed out in the replies to Kurt Sutter's tweets. That said, it's possible that Sons of Anarchy and other classic Fox shows could go in the "Disney vault" and physical copies become scarce in later years.
As mentioned, Hulu and FXNow are still places where a streaming audience can catch episodes of Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C.. For a look at what else is happening on television in the meantime, head on over to our fall and midseason premiere guides.
