During the middle ofGame of Thrones, executive producersDavid BenioffandD.B. Weissannounced their upcoming HBO follow-up:Confederate, an alternate-history sci-fi series positing a future where the South did not lose the Civil War, and slavery still exists as an institution in modern day America. This idea is, as you are undoubtedly feeling based on your increased heart-rate and sweaty brow, incendiary at best and tasteless at worse – particularly coming from two white, male showrunners whose show was often derided for its poor depictions of women and POC. Since then, the two have moved on to different projects and deals, including anow-abortedStar Warstrilogyand anoverall deal with Netflix. So what did this all mean forConfederate, the show absolutely no one was asking for? Was it dead?
Unofficially –yes. All of Benioff and Weiss' moves more-or-less confirmed the show’s lack of a future, alongside several cryptic statements. But it still never got an official axe until now. According toTVLine, HBO presidentCasey Bloyshas officially confirmed the ending ofConfederate. The series is done, before it had a chance to make us all cringe and ponder the unfortunate politics of representation in Hollywood. This is, I think, a Good Thing. Despitethe creative team’s attempts to explain why their show was necessary, alongside the hiring of black writers likeNichelle Tramble Spellman(The Good Wife) andMalcolm Spellman(Empire), it feels like this series would never escape its initial controversies, and it feels like Benioff and Weiss would never escape their less-than-sterling reputations for non-problematic representations and, frankly, storytelling skills.
In the meantime, if you’re still interested in watching an HBO-produced, genre-leaning examination of America’s complicated, volatile relationship with POC, might I kindly suggest forgetting aboutConfederateand watchingWatchmen? And if you’re still interested in watching an alternate history horror project about what would happen if slavery still existed in modern America, squarely from the perspective of POC, how about theAntebellumtrailer?
For more on the dynamic duo of Benioff & Weiss, TV producers at large, here’s intel on theirLovecraftian horror flick coming to Warner Bros. Plus – did you know they directedLeslie Jones' newest stand-up special?
