‘Queen Sono’ & More Series Canceled Due to Coronavirus
It’s a tough time for the television industry and viewers as filming schedules readjust due to coronavirus related restrictions. But sadly some series won’t exist after the pandemic, with or without any production changes.
Usually, when a series is renewed, fans can breathe a sigh of relief that their favorites title is safe for another season. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has changed this as a number of networks have recently reversed their past renewals and canceled fairly successful shows. From first-season Netflix hits to long-adored Comedy Central staples, it seems that no show is entirely safe.
Below, we’re rounding up all of the series that have been scarified due to the ongoing pandemic so far. We hate to say it, but we have a feeling there are more to come.
Queen Sono (Netflix)
This action-packed series from Netflix debuted in February 2020 and was renewed not long after. Queen Sono followed the highly trained titular spy from a South African agency who have one main objective: better the lives of African citizens. Along with tackling dangerous missions, Queen Sono’s (Pearl Thusi) personal relationships were also part of the show’s intrigue.
The President Is Missing (Showtime)
Based on the book by James Patterson and former President Bill Clinton, and starring David Oyelowo and Ann Dowd, the thriller was ordered straight to series in September 2017. However, Showtime has canceled those plans, according to Variety:
“[Production] stopped midway and then because of the pandemic, the relevance of it, things needed to be changed in the writing because of what happens to the President,” Dowd explained. “It just wouldn’t have worked. It would have had to have been re-conceived.” Michael Rooker, Janet McTeer, Medina Senghore, Paul Adelstein, and Gina Gallego were also attached to star.
On Becoming a God in Central Florida (Showtime)
Showtime’s quirky comedy starred Kirsten Dunst as Krystal Stubbs, a woman living in an “Orlando-adjacent” Florida town in 1992. A minimum wage worker, she has a hunger for the American Dream and begins conning, scheming and lying her way to the top of a glorified pyramid scheme. Originally ordered for a second season, the series’ renewal has since been reversed due to coronavirus cost cuts.
GLOW (Netflix)
The female wrestling dramedy had to shut down production on its fourth and final season in March, but it will never resume filming. “Shooting this physically intimate show with its large ensemble cast [is] especially challenging,” Netflix said about its decision to reversal the renewal. The cast included Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron, Britt Baron, and Britney Young.
Stumptown (ABC)
ABC’s Stumptown is TV’s latest casualty after the network decided to reverse its renewal plans for the series. While it won’t be returning on for Season 2 , there’s a shred of hope that the title starring Cobie Smulders will be picked up elsewhere, possibly for streaming. Only time will tell for sure, but it’s certainly a loss for fans who enjoyed the program which also featured Michael Ealy and Jake Johnson among others. Stumptown followed Dex (Smulders) who as a veteran makes a great PI with her skill set, but that doesn’t alway mean her crime-fighting ways align with the police. Mixing in family drama and more, Stumptown was a combination of many fan favorite genres.
Cortés y Moctezuma (Amazon)
Javier Bardem’s Amazon miniseries, about the conflict between his character, Spanish explorer Hernan Cortés, and Aztec ruler Moctezuma II in the 16th century, shut down production in March after two weeks. Due to COVID-related “production constraints,” Amazon Studios and Amblin Partners cannot resume filming, they said in a statement to Deadline. “In the current climate, there is unfortunately no way to remount the production in the near future to achieve the scale and scope that was intended and that the series deserves,” the statement reads.
I'm Sorry (truTV)
Andrea Savage‘s truTV series was previously renewed for a third season, but in August 2020, the creator, writer and star announced via social media that the network decided to cancel the series. Along with the shocking reversal news, the knowledge that the series was canceled midway through production on Season 3 stings that much more. I’m Sorry followed Savage’s character (also named Andrea) who, along with working as a comedy writer, must deal with the day-to-day challenges of being a wife and mother.
I Am Not Okay With This (Netflix)
While this Netflix title wasn’t officially renewed for a second season, it was already preparing for one when the streamer axed the title. Co-created by Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall, I Am Not Okay With This is based on Charles Forsman’s graphic novel of the same name. The show followed the origin story of a teenage girl balancing the everyday challenges of high school with the mysterious new powers she’s suddenly discovered.The drama starred Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Sofia Bryant, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Richard Ellis, and Aidan Wojtak-Hissong, among others.
The Society (Netflix)
Announced alongside I Am Not Okay With This‘ cancellation, The Society‘s axing was a little more surprising considering the show had already been announced as having been renewed for a second season. Before the pandemic disrupted the production schedule, Season 2 was expected to arrive before the end of 2020. The Society followed a group of teens who wake up one day in an alternate version of their small New England town. As they try to uncover the mystery behind what happened to them, they build alliances and bonds to help return home. The Chris Keyser-created series starred Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jacques Colimon, Olivia DeJonge, Alex Fitzalan, Grace Victoria Cox, Emilio Garcia Sanchez, and Olivia Nikkanen.
Drunk History (Comedy Central)
Another victim of the coronavirus cancellation wave was Comedy Central’s Drunk History. Created by Jeremy Konner and Derek Waters, the series featured Waters and an inebriated celebrity guest as they recount a moment from history. Their drunk storytelling was then translated into a hilarious reenactments featuring a rotating door of famous faces. Previously renewed for a seventh season, production was partially complete when the cancellation was announced. Along with Konner and Waters, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay served as executive producers on the series.
Tosh.0 (Comedy Central)
The long-running viral video review series hosted by Daniel Tosh was cancelled after 12 seasons at the network. The 12th season will debut this September on Comedy Central, but the cancellation came as a shock to fans considering the show had been given a four-season renewal at the beginning of 2020. A reason for the cancellation wasn’t provided, but the decision reversal could have something to due with COVID-19-related budget constraints.
