Kaley Cuoco Addresses Potential Based On A True Story Season 3 Return After Disappointing Cancellation

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Ava (Kaley Cuoco) crossing her arms while standing next to Nathan (Chris Messina) in Based on a True Story

Published Jan 26, 2026, 6:30 PM EST

Chances of Based on a True Story being resurrected for season 3 are addressed by Kaley Cuoco after Peacock's decision to cancel the series.

Cuoco starred in and executive produced the show, in which her character, Ava Bartlett, starts a true-crime podcast with her husband, Nathan (Chris Messina). She realizes that their plumber and Nathan's new friend, Matt Pierce (Tom Bateman), is a notorious serial killer known as the West Side Ripper, and he gives them exclusive information for their podcast. Based on a True Story season 2 ended with a West Side Ripper copycat killer's identity being revealed, along with Matt framing Nathan. Despite these cliffhangers and revelations, Peacock decided not to continue the show.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan for Vanished, Cuoco's newest series, she was asked about the disappointment of the Based on a True Story cancellation. Cuoco emphasizes how much she enjoyed making the show and how happy it makes her to hear that it resonated with those who watched it. Check out her comments below:

Let me tell you something — I loved that show so much. And when anyone tells me they loved it, it warms my heart because I don’t think it got the love it deserved. I thought it was so funny. It was the time of my life with Chris Messina. I shot it pregnant. There was so much crazy s*** we did on that show. It was an absurd storyline, but that’s what I loved about it so much. So thank you for saying that.

Cuoco was also asked if there is any chance of Based on a True Story season 3 still happening at a later point in time. She is not confident that this will happen, but makes it clear that she is fully open to continuing the story if the opportunity arises. Cuoco also predicts that the series will gain more recognition as time goes on and as new audiences discover it on streaming.

I think it might be done. I mean, listen, if someone called me and was like, “We’d do a third,” I would do it in two seconds. It was really one of the joys of my life. Although I do say that about most of the jobs I’ve had — they’ve all been wonderful joys at different points in time. But Chris and I just had so much fun. I remember when my fiancé and Tom watched season two, and he looks at me and goes, “So you just do whatever the hell you want on that show.” And I was like, what do you mean? He’s like, “You just do anything you want.” We were so free to be crazy, and I just don’t think it hit the way I thought it would. But I still think it was so funny and so special. And I really appreciate when people have seen it. I also think it’s one of those shows that might get more traction in a few years. People find these weird little hits and go, “Oh my God, I never saw that.” These shows never die. They get found at some point.

Reviews for Based on a True Story season 2 were generally positive, leading to an 83% critics' score and 75% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. In ScreenRant's review, Ben Gibbons praised the season for "The exploration of the relationships — between Ava and her new friend, Nathan and Matt, and Matt with his new girlfriend, Tory," which "makes everything deliciously complicated." Due to the strong reception, the cancellation was likely due to viewership, although Peacock does not regularly release information about the streaming numbers for its content.

Along with the West Side Ripper's copycat killer being unmasked, Matt kidnapped this individual in the season 2 finale, but his intentions were not revealed yet. This is another cliffhanger that remains unresolved, along with what Ava plans to do now that her husband has been framed as a serial killer.

While Based on a True Story appears to be permanently over, Cuoco is now the star and an executive producer of Vanished, a mystery show that is more dramatic than darkly comedic. She plays Alice Monroe, whose boyfriend, Tom (Sam Claflin), suddenly disappears during their romantic trip to Paris. It includes four episodes and will debut on MGM+ on February 1.