Joss Whedon’s television comeback will have to wait. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator has departed HBO’S The Nevers, a sci-fi drama that was ordered straight to series in 2018. Now people are speculating if it’s the Ray Fisher/Justice League drama that has led to his decision to step away from the show.
Here is what Whedon had to say about his 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. 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.”
What’s interesting is that HBO’S statement doesn’t sound like Whedon stepped away:
“We have parted ways with Joss Whedon. We remain excited about the future of The Nevers & look forward to its premiere in the summer of 2021.”
The news comes after months of accusations from Justice League actor Ray Fisher. Whedon stepped in for Zack Snyder for the now infamous reshoots on that film & Fisher recently accused Whedon of “abusive, unprofessional” behavior on set. Warner Bros., which is a corporate sibling of HBO, is investigating Fisher’s allegations so take these recent events as you will.
The Nevers is described as an epic science-fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities & relentless enemies. The show stars Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Ann Skelly, Ben Chaplin, Pip Torrens, Zackary Momoh, Amy Manson, Nick Frost, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, & Denis O’Hare.
