Joss Whedon explains why he just left his new HBO series the Nevers

Joss Whedon has announced that he is stepping down from HBO’s upcoming sci-fi series The Nevers, citing various reasons for his decision in “this year of unprecedented challenges.” In a statement released to CinemaBlend, Whedon explained that the fiscal nature of working on such a project during the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) had taken a toll on his energy level as he confirmed he would be leaving. officially the series, on which he served as a writer, director, executive producer and showrunner.

“This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and outlook 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 to move forward, combined with the physical challenges of putting on such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without labor starting to suffer, ”Whedon wrote in his departure declaration.

“I’m really exhausted and I’m coming back to martial, my energy to my own life, which is also on the verge of an exciting change,” he explained. “I am deeply proud of the work we have accomplished; I’m grateful to all of my amazing actors and collaborators, and to HBO for the opportunity to shape another weird world. Nevers is a real labor of love, but after two more years of work love is pretty much all I have to offer. It will never go away. “

HBO released a separate statement regarding Whedon’s decision to quit the project. In the statement, the network confirmed that the sci-fi series is still on schedule for release next year, writing: “We have parted ways with Joss Whedon. We remain excited about the future of The Nevers and look forward to seeing it. looking forward to its premiere in summer 2021. “

The Nevers was originally heralded in 2018 as “an epic sci-fi drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies and a mission that could change the world.” While it’s unclear how much work has been done on the HBO series so far, it is understood that the casting has been finalized.

The series is directed by Laura Donnelly (Outlander), who plays Amalia True, and Ann Skelly (Red Rock), who plays Penance Adair, Amalia’s best friend in the series. The cast also includes Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Ben Chaplin, Pip Torrens, Zackary Momoh, Amy Manson, Nick Frost, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson and Denis O’Hare.

If you’re looking to fill your watchlist in the meantime, IGN has a full rundown of everything available on HBO’s streaming service at launch, with some notable highlights including the entire Studio Ghibli collection, all eight films. Harry Potter and a curation of timeless classic Turner films like Gone with the Wind and Once Upon a Time in the West.

Adele Ankers is a freelance entertainment journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.