NBC Cancels 'Timeless' a Second Time, But Wrap-Up Movie Still Possible
Leslie Jones may have to make good on her threat to march nude, 'cause NBC just canceled "Timeless."
Again.
NBC canceled "Timeless" after one season last May, but fan outcry brought it back for a second season.
But this is what happens when a fan base is vocal and passionate ... but unable to convert enough new viewers into the fandom.
As Deadline noted, this time NBC waited to share the bad news until after the May upfronts. The cancellation news came just before the casts' options were set to expire.
But there's a small spark of hope on the horizon for at least a wrap-up movie to provide closure after that major Season 2 finale cliffhanger; here's that bit from Deadline:
"[T]he network and Timeless producer Sony Pictures TV had been discussing doing a two-hour movie that would resolve the cliffhanger in the recent Season 2 finale and wrap the stories on the show, giving fans closure. I hear the two sides have not been able to make the economics work so far but conversations continue, and NBC appears interested.
Doing two-hour movie finales is very expensive as it involves ramping up production and reassembling a team with little financial upside for the series' network or studio. The economics are especially challenging on broadcast TV; the only series that has done it in the past decade or so was CBS' CSI, which already had made a ton of money for CBS parent CBS Corp., spawning a billion dollar franchise for CBS TV Studios. On SVOD, Netflix recently did it with its cult sci-fi drama series Sense8."
Co-showrunner Shawn Ryan tweeted about the sad news and wrap-up movie idea:
1. This is a sad day for the writers, actors, crew and especially the viewers of Timeless. We are all extremely proud of what we made and know that it was more than just a show for so many of our fans. It became a passion and a cause for many of them. https://t.co/FPbySi7LXZ
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) June 22, 2018
2. We're proud of the impact @NBCTImeless had on so many people - the students who embraced history as a result of our show, the people who were inspired by our stories of inclusion and acceptance. We saw your tweets and were inspired by you.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) June 22, 2018
3. If NBC is sincere in wanting a 2 hour movie to give much needed closure to our amazing @NBCTimeless fans, we are ready to make it. We don't want the journeys of Lucy, Wyatt, Rufus and the others to end yet. #ClockBlockers
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) June 22, 2018
Co-executive producer Eric Kripke also weighed in:
THANK YOU cast, writers, crew and most all all, the #clockblockers for your brilliance & passion. I love you all. I was proud to bring a little positivity & inclusion into this f-d up world. I will keep my personal thoughts about network TV private until we get this movie made. https://t.co/DQc8corGGM
— Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) June 22, 2018
The stars also reacted to the sad news:
It's true. Thank you for all your support #Timeless fans! It's been an absolute joy playing your Lucy. I sincerely hope we get to do the Timeless movie to wrap up the story and get one more go to wrap up the series in a powerful & elegant way! More soon! xoxo https://t.co/YI59x68dj6
— Abigail Spencer (@abigailspencer) June 22, 2018
I love you #Clockblockers. You've fought so hard and deserve so much more. #Timelesshttps://t.co/XmIblLJRkt
— Matt Lanter (@MattLanter) June 22, 2018
Oh boy. This news sucks. Not what we expected and NOT what our fans deserved. BIG GULP!
This mama bear wants to thank our #Timeless fans for all their love and support and for creating the vibrant, compassion community we are all now a part of.
❤️????????❤️????????❤️????????❤️ pic.twitter.com/3tlzmX0EBq— Sakina Jaffrey (@sakinajaffrey) June 22, 2018
Hopefully NBC doesn't leave the fandom completely hanging. Closure is needed!
Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.