While Cruel Summer is a newly hit for Freeform, however, it became a breakout series for the network without its creator’s involvement.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported that creator Bert V. Royal quit his Freeform series after clashing with an exec at the network after the pilot wrapped last summer. Reps for Freeform and studio Entertainment One declined comment; reps for Royal did not respond to multiple requests.
Royal received a created by and exec producer credit on season one of Cruel Summer and was compensated for all 10 episodes of the thriller despite the fact that he chose to walk away from the series after the pilot in August/September.
The Hollywood Reporter added that Royal grew frustrated after repeated clashes with an exec at the network during the pilot process and walked away from the 1990s-set drama starring Olivia Holt. Duncan oversaw development of Cruel Summer after the pilot.
