FX pulls plug on border drama ‘The Bridge’

FX announced that it is not moving forward with a third season of “The Bridge,” the gritty drama about two detectives on opposite sides of the U.S.-Mexico border who are forced to work together.

John Landgraf, chief executive of FX Networks, said it was a “painful decision” to cancel the series: “I really love the show, the cast and the producers, and we all worked very hard on it.”

But he said the series, though it was mostly well-received by critics, did not have the creative momentum or viewer support to warrant a third season. He also said that as good as the series is, it was unlikely to be nominated for major awards.

“The Bridge” premiered in the summer of 2013, and revolved around two detectives from opposite sides of the El Paso-Mexican border who have to join forces to catch a serial killer. The series is based on the Swedish series “Bron,” set on the border of Denmark and Sweden

The drama won a Peabody Award this year for examining “border issues that are rarely seen on U.S. television.”

Total viewership for the second season dropped 33% from the first season, and the audience declined significantly in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic that advertisers covet.

The drama starred Demian Bichir, who was nominated for a lead actor Oscar for 2011’s “A Better Life,” and Diane Kruger, whose film credits include “Farewell, My Queen,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “The Host” and the “National Treasure” franchise.