‘Deli Boys’ Canceled After Two Seasons At Hulu

EXCLUSIVE: After two seasons, the Onyx Collective series Deli Boys has been canceled at Hulu. The crime dramedy stars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, and Poorna Jagannathan.

The reason for the show’s cancellation is due to ratings, sources say. The series was a priority for Onyx, which pushed for the addition of a new series regular and a supporting cast to help attract new viewers, sources told me at the time. Following the casting of Fred Armisen in the series regular role, the show was renewed for a second season. Next, the supporting cast additions were announced for Andrew Rannells, Kumail Nanjiani, Lilly Singh, Robin Thede and Tan France.

Deli Boys was unique in that it centered South Asian characters, with the series creator Abdullah Saeed (Pakistani American) and the core three lead actors being of South Asian descent, a rarity in Hollywood in 2026. The series boasted representation for the community with many behind-the-scenes jobs, as well.

There are examples of TV shows featuring at least one South Asian actor in leading roles, including Mindy Kaling’s (Indian American) Hulu series Not Suitable For Work, featuring Avantika, an Indian American actress in the series regular cast; Prime Video’s 56 Days, led by Avan Jogia, whose father is British Indian; and CBS’ Ghosts stars Utkarsh Ambudkar, who is of Indian descent.

Deli Boys follows Mir and Raj Dar (Ali and Shaikh), a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers who lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba’s (Iqbal Theba) secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld. Jagannathan stars as Naveeda “Lucky,” Baba’s confidant and a crime boss auntie.

In Season 2, Armison played Max Sugar, a legendary gambling savant with an uncanny ability to read people like cards in the half-hour series. His casino empire is global, but his crown jewel is in Philly.

Deli Boys was a special series for the actors like Jagannathan, who previously told Deadline, “What I love about this role is that Lucky has masculinity to her and a fieriness and a physicalness that I’ve never been able to play. It’s definitely not a role you’ve ever seen a South Asian woman play; you don’t see women play these types of roles. But she is stabbing someone with her left hand and shooting someone else with her right while taking somebody’s eye out with her heel. It’s on all possible fronts.”

Jagannathan will next be seen in HBO Max’s Lanterns, premiering August 16.