Netflix Original Political Thriller Series Starring Anna Torv Series Leaving in March 2026

Another high-profile international Netflix Original is set to depart the service globally. The Australian political thriller Secret City, starring Anna Torv of The Last of Us, Territory, and Mindhunter, will leave Netflix on March 4th, 2026.

It has been a rough start to the year for long-time subscribers, with the service losing several licensed “Originals” as their fixed-term distribution deals expire. As we’ve covered just before the year began, over 100 Netflix Originals are due to face the axe this year, with many not going on to get new streaming homes following their Netflix departure. 

One of the many Originals leaving in March will be Secret City, which will leave Netflix entirely on March 4th, 2026. This applies to both Season 1 (released internationally in 2018) and Season 2, titled Secret City: Under the Eagle (released in 2019). A label has now been added to the show’s page indicating that you have until March 3rd to finish your binge. 

Screencapture by What’s on Netflix

What is Secret City?

If you missed this hidden gem during its run, it is well worth a binge before it departs.

Based on the best-selling novels The Marmalade Files, The Mandarin Code, and The Shadow Game by Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis, the series is set in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Across 12 episodes, it follows Anna Torv as Harriet Dunkley, a senior political journalist who uncovers a secret city of interlocked conspiracies beneath the placid facade of Canberra. As she digs closer to the truth, she finds herself in the middle of increasing tension between China and the United States, threatening the safety of all of Australia.

The series features a stellar cast including:

• Anna Torv (Mindhunter, The Last of Us, Fringe)
• Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Yellowstone)
• Dan Wyllie (The Great)
• Damon Herriman (Justified)

The show received strong reviews throughout its run and still currently sits at 7.4/10 on IMDb as of the time of publishing. The show continues to attract millions of views on Netflix each year, with the Netflix Engagement Reports covering 2023-2025, suggesting it picked up 8.3M views during that period.

Why is Secret City leaving Netflix?

As we often cover here, the Netflix Original label can be confusing, given that there are multiple types of Netflix Originals. While Netflix carries the show exclusively in many international territories, it did not produce it.

Secret City is a production of Matchbox Pictures and Foxtel. It originally aired on Fox Showcase in Australia. Netflix acquired the exclusive international distribution rights, effectively renting the show for a fixed period.

That period is now up. As is standard with these licensing deals, once the contract expires, the rights revert to the owner (Foxtel/Matchbox Pictures), and the title must be removed from Netflix unless a renewal deal is struck. We have seen some shows renewed, but realistically, that might not happen here. 

Are you disappointed to see Secret City leaving Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.