TV Show News

TV Renewals, Cancellations, Orders: MATADOR, LONGMIRE, JEKYLL & HYDE

Gabriel Luna Matador

Matador, Longmire, Jekyll & Hyde, and other TV shows have all made recent TV show news by being renewed for an additional season, cancelled, or had additional episode orders. These shows air on El Rey, Netflix, and ITV.

Matador (El Rey)

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Robert Rodriguez‘s El Rey Network has opted not to move forward with a second season of its original action drama series Matador…Matador, an expensive production shot in Los Angeles and backed by El Rey, did OK in its U.S. run. But the series, described as a Latino take on James Bond, did not do as well as its producers had hoped internationally where its sales were soft despite a strong initial interest, leading to the decision not to proceed with Season 2.

Longmire (Netflix)

Netflix, following several weeks of negotiations, has closed a deal for a 10-episode fourth season of the drama series to premiere in 2015 in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The news comes less than three months after LongmirNetflix Logoe‘s surprise cancellation by A&E after three seasons.

Following the cancellation by A&E, Longmire producer Warner Horizon launched efforts to find a new home for the series. It put together a detailed pitch highlighting the show’s performance and fan following, as well as a road map for Season 4. The company cast a wide net, though Netflix and Amazon were identified as primary targets from the get-go, with Netflix considered the most logical destination for the series; the service already has the rights to the previous seasons as part of its multi-series streaming deal with Warner Bros.

Longmire was A&E’s most-watched original scripted series, averaging 5.6 million viewers in Season 3, a slight dip from Season 2’s nearly 6 million average with a much weaker lead-in. Despite its large audience, A&E insiders argued that the show was not profitable because advertisers, who pay a premium to reach younger audiences, undervalue older-skewing shows like Longmire. That’s not an issue for subscription-based services like Netflix.

Luther (BBC)

BBC America has revived the drama, which stars Idris Elba, for a two-part miniseries set to air in 2015

Elba will reprise his role as the murder detective

Series creator Neil Cross…will write the two hourlong episodes in the mini, a co-production with BBC Drama Production and BBC America.

Production will begin in March in and around London for a late 2015 premiere on BBC America.

Luther ran for three seasons and 14 total episodes from 2010-2013, netted Elba a Golden Globe win in 2011 as well as a pair of NAACP prizes. The series has also received eight Emmy nominations, including two for outstanding miniseries. Luther is also a critical favorite and one of the BBC’s highest-rated original series.

The Queen Latifah Show

Sony Pictures TV has cancelled its syndicated talker The Queen Latifah Show after two seasons.

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Untying The Knot

Bravo has greenlit a second season of Untying The Knot with celebrity attorney and mediator Vikki Ziegler.

Season 2 expands to a 60-minute format as Ziegler helps couples divvy up their belongings, which can range from dazzling diamonds to family pets. Also returning for the second season are Michael and Mark Millea, who evaluate and appraise the items that are in contention so Ziegler can help couples determine a fair, equitable division of assets.

Sullivan & Son (TBS)

TBS has cancelled comedy series Sullivan & Son after three seasons. Sullivan & Son and Men At Work were TBS’ first original comedy series to take hold, both going to three seasons after making it to the air in 2012.

The most recent third season averaged 1.6 million viewers and a 0.6 rating in adults 18-49, down 21% and 26%, respectively, from Season 2.

Jekyll & Hyde (ITV)

The Frankenstein Chronicles (ITV)

ITV has commissioned a 10-part action adventure drama inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s, The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde. The series, Jekyll & Hyde, hails from British actor and author Charlie Higson…He’ll write and executive produce…This [adaptation] one is set in 1930s London at a time of Hollywood glamour, aerodynamic cars and monster movies. It’s also the second time in recent days that ITV has resurrected a classic monster: The network announced last week that Sean Bean is leading its six-part period crime drama The Frankenstein Chronicles.

Jekyll & Hyde will focus on the young, attractive and troubled hero, Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the original doctor. Newly-qualified, Robert is on a quest to discover his real identity, his true family history and the nature of his ‘curse’ which is being controlled with medication by Dr Vishal Najaran. One actor will play the lead role, transforming into Hyde in moments of extreme anger and stress, and when his or the lives of others are threatened.

CGI will play a “huge” part in the transformation and subsequent superhero sequences. Certain recurring characters, including monsters, ghouls, zombies, werewolves, vampires and general freaks of nature, will also be created by CGI techniques in the ambitious ITV project. Casting is underway.

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Source: Deadline, Hollywoodreporter

 

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Rollo Tomasi

Rollo Tomasi is a Connecticut-based film critic, TV show critic, news, and editorial writer. He will have a MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University in 2025. Rollo has written over 700 film, TV show, short film, Blu-ray, and 4K-Ultra reviews. His reviews are published in IMDb's External Reviews and in Google News. Previously you could find his work at Empire Movies, Blogcritics, and AltFilmGuide. Now you can find his work at FilmBook.
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