Joss Whedon has departed the sci-fi drama series “The Nevers” which he created and was ordered straight to series back in 2018.
The project marked the “Buffy,” “Angel” and “Firefly” creator’s return to television following the shortlived “Dollhouse”. HBO said in a statement: “We have parted ways with Joss Whedon. We remain excited about the future of The Nevers and look forward to its premiere in the summer of 2021.”
Whedon was poised to write, direct and serve as showrunner on the epic science-fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies and a mission that might change the world.
Whedon said in a statement 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.”
Casting has already been completed with Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Ann Skelly, Ben Chaplin, Pip Torrens, Zackary Momoh, Amy Manson, Nick Frost, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson and Denis O’Hare all set.
Writers and producers Jane Espenson, Doug Petrie and Bernie Caulfield remain attached.