Manifest is closing in on Season 2 renewal, but showrunner Jeff Rake is already looking at the end game.
Speaking to Collider, Rake elaborated on the NBC drama’s 6-season plan:
In my first incarnation, I did basically have a sense of the ultimate end game, but as anyone who watches or writes television knows, there’s a long way from the beginning to the end. Over the course of the years after I was unsuccessful in getting anyone to bite at the concept, it spent a few years on the shelf. And then, I would noodle with it, and give it more shelf time. And then, I would try to get a producer interested, and noodle with it. Ultimately, I was lucky enough to get Warner Brothers and NBC excited about it last summer. Over the years, I certainly iterated on it throughout. I found some important middle plateaus. And then, it came to me in one fell swoop. The many layers that I intend to bring to the show have been the result of my own contemplating, over the years. Now that I’m working with eight incredibly talented writers in the room with me, I have the benefit of collaborating with all of them to fill in all the gaps in between.”
With Manifest unfurling its overarching mythology, Rake urges fans to pay attention to the clues seeded in each episode:
I’d encourage the audience to pay close attention to everything. Anything that’s featured and highlighted, either in dialogue or in a specific cutaway shot to a number or an object, is intentional. We are deliberately planting seeds, and a lot of them will grow into story strands, over the course of the seasons. It’s an organic a process. As we plant these seeds in the writers’ room, we spend a lot of time thinking about where we think the most important strands are and which are the ones that require the most development. Sometimes things will pay off in a huge way. Sometimes they’ll pay off in a small way. I’m sure there will inevitably be elements that the viewers watch and are waiting for something to come of it, and then, after a time, you’ll say, “Wait a minute, why didn’t that pay off, in some way?” The audience may latch onto something that they thought was significant, but that the writers did not intend to make significant. I think that’s inevitable, in any show, but we certainly do think about what you’re asking about. There are some little puzzle pieces that will appear in the background that matter, and I’d encourage everybody to keep a close eye out.
Are you aboard the Manifest survival plan? How many seasons do you want the show to last? Should it be cancelled?
I love Manifest. We have to many CSI type programs and talk shows. We could use more mystery and comedy. Keep Manifest alive. Love the twists and characters.
And they are all fake. Have you seen a CSI on the street arresting people, do detective work. Can’t stand any of them.
LOVE Manifest!! Please keep it going!! It’s DEFINITELY a HIT!!! Wouldn’t miss it!!
Please keep a show on that’s Different, not to mention keeps you interested for what the next show holds! It keeps you on the edge of your seat with suspense PLEASE don’t cancel Manifest! X Files was on for years why can’t this one?
I too love Manifest and hope it continues a long time through many season. Good Luck!
I am sick of all the stupid reality shows. Everything i enjoy watching gets canceled. Vampire diaries, True blood, Grimm, just to name a few. Please keep this show. I really like it!
I love Manifest. Please don’t cancel.
As many as possible. I think this tvshow will last six to seven seasons. There are a lot of unsolved mysteries, very similar to Lost. I hope this is not axed soon.
Please keep Manifest on. It is an excellent show and it keeps you wanting more
I absolutely love the show! Which leads me to believe that it will eventually be canceled because every awesome show that gets your imagination going gets canceled. The crap reality shows which are so far from reality anyhow, seem to stay. And all these cozy neighborhood shows are new on the platform. They’re a waste of time.
I really enjoy watching Manifest. In a way, it reminds me of The 4400. Thank you to the writers for planting seeds of important information. I will keep an eye out for them in each show. I hope this lasts many seasons.I have never watched any of the CSI shows. I wasn’t ever interested in that kind of show, but I will watch this show because it has supernatural elements to it which I love.
I really like this show! Keeps you wondering how and or what happened with, to these people. How it’s all going to play out. I hope this show isn’t cancelled, that it keeps going at least for a while. And doesn’t end without answers and a good ending. I agree with Gale I like the supernatural elements in this show. I like most any shows with supernatural elements in them. Have had so many cancelled that I liked. GRRR
i certainly agree with you…
I really enjoy this show. I hope it does not get cancelled. It captured my attention from the 1st episode. Love all the twists and characters.
i love the show…it just goes to show that when you really like a show they will cancel it…sigh…
I love Manifest please keep it going! It really keeps your interest!
I love so far I tink us different so is good
I really enjoy watching Manifest….and totally agree with Steve, October 31,
Yes Please don’t cancel it. Thanks to the writers, they really keep your interest up high.
Please keep it going, I just love it’s very Interesting,It keeps my heart going Thanks Diane A
I love Mr. Addison’s apples
i like this show, but getting tired of season after season of conspiracies over the years. we have blindspot and starting to get sick of it, there is no way all about secret governments and shadowy groups. NBC went over top on conspiracies and lot of “BS”. The Lost and The Dome seem to be getting recycled into newer shows and themes, but same old conspiracies and another shadowy groups and it getting old when over used too much.
Please do NOT END Manifest. This is the only show in YEARS that I have found worth watching. Why would you get rid of it?
I LOVE Manifest……it keeps my attention….love trying to figure out why things are happening. Finally a show you look forward that makes you Think! DON’T CANCEL…..I can see MANY more seasons.
I really hope this is renewed! There are only about 3 shows I make sure to watch each week and this is one of them. I am definitely sick of all the reality tv shows. I’m really enjoying the supernatural mystery aspect of this show while still not seeming too “out there”.
I love anal……I love rimming…….but I don’t love it all the time…….same thing with Manifest……..see my point?
Please, Please, Please keep Manifest going. It keeps your interest and it’s something to look forward to each week. Well thought out and well planned. To the writers of the show.. just awesome dialogue. Please don’t cancel this show. NBC please keep this going. BRILLIANT.
Please bring this show back! It keeps you guessing. I looked forward to it every week and I don’t watch much TV!
Please renew !!!!