Starz Scraps Ava DuVernay’s Romantic Drama Series Starring Joshua Jackson and Lauren Ridloff

Rebecca Iannucci
·1 min read
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Tough week for Joshua Jackson.

Seven days after Paramount+ cancelled Jackson’s Fatal Attraction reboot, Starz has scrapped the romantic drama series in which Jackson and Lauren Ridloff (The Walking Dead) were set to star, shepherded by Ava DuVernay.

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According to our sister publication Variety, DuVernay chose to step away from the project shortly after her overall deal with Warner Bros. Television ended in May, leading Starz to opt not to move forward with the series. Filming had gotten underway in March, but was paused during the Writers Guild of America strike.

The untitled drama first went into development in May 2022, with Starz eyeing a three-season pickup right away. It would have followed two polar opposites who became intertwined in a love affair that turned their worlds — and those of everyone around them — upside down.

“There is nothing like this series on TV and we are thrilled to be in development with Ava, a trailblazer and unparalleled champion of diversity,” said Kathryn Busby, Starz’s original programming chief, when the project was first announced. “Lauren is a true inspiration and together with Joshua, a brilliant veteran actor, they will bring their incredible talents to this project — both in front of and behind the camera. This series exemplifies our #TakeTheLead mission, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Starz’s other recent cancellations include Heels, Run the World and Blindspotting, while plans for the series The Venery of Samantha Bird, starring 13 Reasons Why‘s Katherine Langford, were scrapped in September.

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