‘Longmire’ to Ride Off Netflix: Fans Rally as Revival Rumors Swirl

After more than a decade of streaming success, the hit Western crime drama Longmire is saddling up for one last ride on Netflix. The show is set to leave the platform on January 1, 2025, marking the end of an era for one of television’s most unexpected comeback stories — and sparking fresh speculation about a potential revival.

The removal comes after nearly ten years of steady streaming popularity. The series, based on Craig Johnson’s bestselling Longmire Mysteries novels, has built a passionate fanbase that helped rescue it once before — when it was canceled by A&E in 2014 and picked up by Netflix following a massive fan campaign. Now, those same fans are mobilizing again.

A Western Built for the Modern Era

Longmire, which first premiered on A&E in 2012, follows Sheriff Walt Longmire, a stoic, old-school lawman in the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming, as he solves crimes while confronting grief and small-town corruption. Anchored by Robert Taylor’s understated performance and supported by Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Bailey Chase, the series stood out for blending classic Western grit with contemporary storytelling.

At its peak, Longmire drew nearly 6 million viewers per episode, making it one of A&E’s most-watched dramas. Yet, in 2014, the network abruptly canceled it after three seasons. The decision wasn’t due to ratings — it was business. Warner Bros., which owns the rights to Longmire, refused to sell the series outright to A&E, cutting off the network’s ability to profit from syndication and streaming.

“A broadcaster can make a lot more money off a show if they own it,” Johnson explained in a 2022 interview with Cowboy State Daily. “Warner Bros. knew they had a hit on their hands with Longmire and wouldn’t sell.”

Within months of its cancellation, Netflix stepped in, greenlighting three more seasons and turning Longmire into one of its earliest fan-fueled revival hits. The show officially concluded in 2017 — or so everyone thought.

Craig Johnson Speaks Out

This week, series creator and novelist Craig Johnson broke his silence after Netflix confirmed the show’s departure. Posting to his Facebook page, Johnson didn’t mince words about his disappointment — and his hope for a second resurrection.

“I’m to understand that Netflix is officially dropping Longmire from its lineup at the end of the year, even though the show is still alive and well in the ratings,” he wrote. “I hear it’s been picked up by Paramount+, and I’m curious to see if Warner [Bros.], now free from the sweetheart deal with Netflix, will finally consider reviving the show.”

Johnson even added a personal touch of protest:

“I took a great deal of satisfaction canceling my Netflix subscription. When they asked why, I simply wrote: LONGMIRE.”

The post quickly went viral among Longmire fans, drawing thousands of likes, shares, and supportive comments. Some called for Warner Bros. to relaunch the show on Max, Warner’s own streaming platform, while others championed a move to Paramount+, where the Western-friendly audience of Yellowstone could be a natural fit.

A Fandom That Never Quit

Few TV series have enjoyed the kind of sustained fan devotion Longmire commands. Its mix of rugged landscapes, character-driven plots, and moral clarity helped it stand out amid flashier streaming fare. After A&E’s cancellation, the fan-led #LongLiveLongmire campaign was one of the earliest examples of organized online activism successfully saving a show.

That loyalty, Johnson notes, never faded. “These viewers are as dedicated now as they were ten years ago,” he said in 2022. “They want good stories, and they don’t care whether they’re on a big network or a streaming app.”

When Longmire was first revived, many fans discovered it for the first time on Netflix, introducing a new generation to the modern Western genre. Now, with its removal looming, those same fans are making noise again — this time demanding that Warner Bros. find Longmire a new home.

Warner Bros. and the Revival Question

So could Longmire really ride again? Industry insiders say it’s not impossible. Warner Bros. retains the intellectual property rights, meaning it can license the show — or reboot it entirely — to another outlet once its exclusivity deal with Netflix ends in 2025.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson declined to comment on any future plans, but media analysts note that Westerns are back in fashion, thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone empire and renewed audience interest in Americana storytelling. “There’s a clear market for Longmire again,” says TV analyst Jenna Ross. “It fits perfectly in the current landscape — gritty, moral, and rooted in the heartland.”

A Legacy Worth Revisiting

If this truly marks the end of Longmire’s Netflix chapter, it closes one of streaming’s most enduring success stories — a show that refused to die, built by fans who refused to let it.

For Johnson, the message is clear: Longmire’s story isn’t finished.

“The sheriff still has work to do,” he wrote. “And if Warner Bros. is listening — we’re ready for the next chapter.”