Silicon Valley Probably Wont Come Back Until 2020

Bad news, Silicon Valley fans: the HBO comedy will likely remain off-air until 2020. And after that sixth season does air, its future remains even more unclear.

A representative for the premium cabler confirmed to TV Line Wednesday that production on the tech comedys sixth season has been delayed until the summer of 2019. The reason? The series shares a show-runner with a certain other popular comedy on the same network. “As Alec is a show-runner on both Barry and Silicon Valley,” an HBO rep told TV Line, “the schedule was structured to allow Alec to wrap on Barry before starting work on Silicon Valley.” The source added that no decision has been made about whether Silicon Valley will come back after Season 6.

As TV Line noted, Berg began hinting that the series might expire in the near future more than a year ago. “I cant say we have [a specific end date] in mind, but we definitely for the first time are starting to talk about, How long do you think this will continue. . . ?” Berg told TV Line while chatting about the shows fourth season in June 2017. “There is no definitive plan [to conclude the series], but were starting to think that maybe there are less shows left than there are in the can.”

Those who have kept up with the show since its beginning will see the truth in Bergs words. For five seasons now, the series has focused on a gang of techie underdogs who have an incredible ability to fail in the most bafflingly stupid ways possible—despite their obvious intellectual capabilities. The shows purposely circuitous nature is a rare form of art—but its also a formula that will wear thin eventually. The conflict is obvious: as star Thomas Middleditch once put it, “Theres only so much falling on your face and just pulling it out in the nick of time that you can do before [it gets old].” But on the other hand, there is a danger in the shows characters getting too successful: as co-creator Mike Judge once pointed out, “I think if these guys end up becoming the next Google, my fear is that the show is sort of over.”

There are plenty of tempting reasons to want Silicon Valley to keep going—especially as the shows real-life inspirations continue to make ever more costly mistakes, and expand their reach in new and terrifying ways. And in any case, theres still a chance that Silicon Valleys sixth season will not be its last. Even if that ends up being the case, though, all signs indicate that at the very least, it might be time for Silicon Valley fans to start preparing for the prospect of their favorite nerds going off the air sooner rather than later.

More Great Stories from Vanity Fair

— Michelle Rodriguez was terrified of her role in Widows

— Loved Bohemian Rhapsody? Here are more wild and wonderful—and true—Freddie Mercury stories

— How Netflix could save film history

— Inside the Middle Easts underground L.G.B.T.Q. cinema

— How Kieran became our favorite Culkin

Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.

Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.