Peacock has scrapped the adaptation of the comic book seriesDead Dayhailing fromVampire DiariescreatorsJulie PlecandKevin Williamson,Varietyhas reported. The move comes after the show was ordered straight-to-series for its streaming serviceback in January 2022. Plec and Williamson were set to serve as writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners on the series, with Universal Television producing. Per the report, the studio is now planning to shop the project to other outlets. Peacock had bought the series preemptively so this will mark the first time it has been shown to other buyers.
Based on the comic run by the same nameDead Dayshowcased an ensemble of characters preparing to survive the annual “dead day,” when for one night the dead come back to visit family and friends, celebrate, complete unfinished business, be that to celebrate a night back on earth or to torment the living. The series’ scrapping follows the cancelation of Plec and Willamson’s other seriesVampire Academyafter the first season by the network.
For now, Plec still has the seriesThe Girls on the Busat HBO Max and also opened a writers’ room for the mystery dramaFreemanfor Peacock. She stays under her overall deal with the network. She also has other projects set up at Amazon, and Netflix. Williamson recently produced and co-wrote the screenplay for the Peacock slasher filmSick, and is an executive producer on the recent fifthScreamfilm, with the sixth due to be released later this year.
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As for Peacock, the streamer is in the midst of shifting its programming strategy underSusan Rovner. It is said to be looking for more bingeable comedies and more event-series type dramas, such asThe Best Man: The Final Chapters. The series became the first Peacock show to hit the Nielsen top 10 streaming charts. In the same vein, the streamer also releasedPoker FacestarringNatasha Lyonnewhich is created byRian Johnson, who is currently riding high on the success ofGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, for which he also got an Oscar nomination in Best Adapted Screenplay category.Poker Faceis a mystery-of-the-week kind of drama with a plethora of guest roles from Hollywood A-listers. The show has already been met with significant critical acclaim upon its debut.
Dead Day’s cancelation comes amid a wider industry trend of shows getting scrapped despite series orders or renewals. AMC also recently dumped a number of its shows, such asDemascus,61st Street,andInvitation to a Bonfire.
