'Masters of Sex' canceled after four seasons on Showtime

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Showtime series Masters of Sex has been canceled after four seasons.

The period drama, starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as Dr. William Masters and Virgina Johnson, was canceled this week following its Season 4 finale, Entertainment Weekly reported Wednesday.

"Masters of Sex was a beautifully written and acted exploration of America's changing sexual mores," Showtime said in a statement.

"We are incredibly proud to have shared the story of Masters and Johnson for four critically-acclaimed seasons. The series will remain available across our platforms where new viewers can discover it for years to come," the network added.

Season 4 ended in November with Masters and Johnson getting married. Sources told Deadline that producers felt the wedding was "a fitting conclusion" to the couple's story and decided to not pursue a fifth season.

Masters of Sex followed Masters and Johnson, real-life sexologists, as they researched human sexuality in the 1950s through the 1970s. The series was created by Michelle Ashford and co-starred Caitlin Fitzgerald and Teddy Sears.

Sheen is slated for a number of upcoming movies, including Nocturnal Animals with Jake Gyllenhaal and Passengers with Chris Pratt. Caplan will star in the forthcoming drama Friend of Bill.