It has been over a year since we’ve heard of any news of Joss Whedon’s HBO sci-fi drama The Nevers, but it has now been announced that Whedon is exiting the series’ development.
The Nevers stars Lauren Donnelly (Outlander) as Amalia True, a member of a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.
“We have parted ways with Joss Whedon. We remain excited about the future of The Nevers and look forward to its premiere in the summer of 2021,” HBO said in a statement regarding Whedon’s exit.
“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,” Whedon said. “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.”
The news of Whedon’s exit comes after months of allegations from Justice League star Ray Fisher who claims Whedon treated him and the cast with “gross, abusive, unprofessional and completely unacceptable” behaviour. While the details of Whedon’s behaviour are not entirely known, there have been several rumours and much hearsay regarding what happened after he took over for Zack Snyder on the superhero film.
Whedon created The Nevers with his Buffy The Vampire Slayer colleagues Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie, who also co-wrote the series with Whedon. This would have marked Whedon’s return to television since his 2009 sci-fi series Dollhouse.
The Nevers stars Lauren Donnelly (Outlander), Olivia Williams (Counterpart), James Norton (Grantchester), Tom Riley (Dark Heart), Ann Skelly (Death and Nightingales), Ben Chaplin (The Children Act), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Zackary Momoh (Seven Seconds), Amy Manson (Torchwood), Nick Frost (Fighting With My Family), Rochelle Neil (Death in Paradise), Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) and Denis O’Hare (This Is Us).
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