Why Michaela Coel didn’t return for Black Mirror’s highly-anticipated sequel episode

Black Mirror season 7 episode ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’ spoilers follow.

The lack of Michaela Coel in the follow-up to ‘USS Callister’ from Black Mirror Season 7 has been clarified by its creator, Charlie Brooker.

In 2017, I had the privilege of making an appearance in the fourth season of a series, portraying the character named Shania Lowry. That was quite an experience!

Instead, it’s worth noting that she’s conspicuously missing from the latest release, ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’. The storyline in this installment suggests that her character met a tragic fate off-camera.

Brooker recently disclosed that Coel’s unavailability was due to complications with scheduling. He acknowledged to Entertainment Weekly that it was quite a challenge to coordinate everyone’s schedules.

He stated that finding a time that worked for everyone proved challenging. He’s long admired her talents and considers her remarkable. Previously, she appeared in our show twice; bringing her back for a third appearance might be seen as overly demanding.

To clarify Lowry’s end, Brooker stated: “We reveal the location where she is found, but regrettably, she perished during a mission. It happens rather abruptly. [One character] remarks, ‘Two weeks ago, Shania was brutally torn apart before my eyes and I can still catch the scent of her blood.’

In a previous conversation, the showrunner shared insights on how the follow-up to ‘USS Callister’ was conceived. They revealed this to Deadline, stating that the initial storyline concluded in such a way that it seemed like we were preparing for a sequel.

Instead of discussing the possibility of a movie or mini-series, it turned out that the storyline continued with a standalone episode in season 7, now available for viewing.

He stated, “Though it underwent multiple forms, in the end, we managed to extend it into a full-length episode within the season.” He added, “It took an immense amount of time to coordinate everything – we faced challenges like the pandemic, writers’ strike, and juggling everyone’s schedules, which felt like solving a complex puzzle on a single wheel.

Black Mirror seasons 1-7 are streaming on Netflix now.

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2025-04-10 18:19