Joss Whedon Exits His HBO Series THE NEVERS and Explains Why in a Statement
Joss Whedon has made the decision to exit the HBO series he’s been working on for the past couple of years, The Nevers. Whedon was the creative force behind the show, and was serving as the writer, director, executive producer, and showrunner.
The series is described as an “epic science-fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.” It sounds like a super cool concept, and it’s a series that I’ve been looking forward to watching.
Whedon said that the reason for his departure was because he was unable to meet “the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic.” His full statement reads:
“This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and perspective in ways I could never have imagined, and while developing and producing ‘The Nevers’ has been a joyful experience, I realize that the level of commitment required moving forward, combined with the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work beginning to suffer. I am genuinely exhausted and am stepping back to martial my energy towards my own life, which is also at the brink of exciting change. I am deeply proud of the work we have done; I’m grateful to all my extraordinary cast and collaborators, and to HBO for the opportunity to shape yet another strange world. ‘The Nevers’ is a true labor of love, but after two plus years of labor, love is about all I have to offer. It will never fade.”
HBO said in their statement, “We have parted ways with Joss Whedon. We remain excited about the future of The Nevers and look forward to its premiere.”
I’m sure a lot of people might think that his departure from the series has something to do with the allegations made by Justice League actor Ray Fisher. Fisher seems to think so and shared in a recent Tweet:
“I have no intention of allowing Joss Whedon to use the old Hollywood tactic of ‘exiting’, ‘stepping down’, or ‘walking away’ to cover for his terrible behavior. WarnerMedia’s JL investigation has been in full swing for over 3 weeks now. This is undoubtedly a result of it. A>E”
When the show was first ordered, Whedon described it as “the most ambitious narrative I’ve created,” which is saying something coming from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly. Maybe it was too much for him. But maybe it also had something to do with the investigation. At this point, no one other than the people on the inside really knows for sure, not even Fisher. But, I’m sure the truth will eventually find its way to the surface.
In the end, I’m still looking forward to watching the show, the cast of which includes Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, Nick Frost, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Elizabeth Berrington, Ella Smith, Viola Prettejohn, Anna Devlin, and Martyn Ford.
An HBO spokesperson said the show is still scheduled to premiere next summer.
Source: Variety