In the latest cost-cutting move at Warner Bros. Discovery, Minx has been cancelled despite a season 2 renewal and filming nearly complete. The show's first season will also be taken off of HBO Max.
Minx was a series centered on Ophelia Lovibond's Joyce Prigger, who's described as “an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women.” The HBO Max series was a modest success for the network and enjoyed positive reviews for its sharp comedy and the rapport between Johnson and Lovibond. It joins a long list of shows recently cancelled by HBO, which includes Westworld.
Minx was cancelled as part of a cost-cutting measure by Warner Bros. Discovery. Season 1 of the series will also be removed from the platform because producer Lionsgate Television is shopping the series around to new networks. Lionsgate released a statement that reads, “We have enjoyed a good partnership with HBO Max and are working closely to find a new opportunity for Minx, so current, and new viewers, can continue this journey with us."
HBO Max has been removing several series from its platform following their cancellations. It was recently announced that Westworld would be removed from its platform, despite the network having spent quite a bit of money for what was once one of its flagships. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery has been in a state of creative upheaval as of late, with some of its subsidiaries, such as DC Studios, undergoing major reworkings. For example, it was recently announced that Wonder Woman 3 would not be moving forward.
The move could potentially harm HBO's working relationship with Lionsgate Television. Though cancellations aren't new, Minx was very nearly done with its production of season 2. Lionsgate wants to continue the series elsewhere. It potentially paints Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav in an even more controversial light.
Zaslav's appointment as CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery has already been known to have alienated creatives. For instance, after cancelling the movie, an anonymous Batgirl actor reportedly called Zaslav an imbecile. The effect of these cancellations on HBO's reputation isn't fully known and may not be fully known for years to come. However, it certainly hasn't inspired much confidence in new series over at HBO Max, given that they may be cancelled at a moment's notice.
Source: Variety