Starz is canceling four of its series, Variety has learned exclusively. Specifically, “Heels,” “Run the World,” and “Blindspotting” will not get new seasons at the cable network, while “The Venery of Samantha Bird” Season 1 is being scrapped without airing.
“Heels,” “Run the World,” and “Blindspotting” all recently aired their second season at Starz, while “The Venery of Samantha Bird” was in production on its first season. Production was shut down, however, at the onset of the WGA strike. It was reported at the time that only two episodes of the first season were left to shoot.
“The Venery of Samantha Bird” was to star Katherine Langford as the title character. Per the official logline, “Samantha, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But the couple’s picture-perfect love story isn’t as sweet as it seems on the surface.”
“Heels” followed the professional wrestlers of the Duffy Wrestling League, a small independent promotion in Georgia. Jack Spade (Stephen Amell) inherited the league from his father and now struggles to keep it afloat while also trying to take it to the next level.
The series also starred Alexander Ludwig, Chris Bauer, Mary McCormack, Kelli Berglund, Allen Maldonado, Trey Tucker, Robby Ramos, Alice Barrett Mitchell, Roxton Garcia, David James Elliott, Joel Murray, and CM Punk. Mike O’Malley, who was also the series showrunner, starred in the role of Charlie Gully, a rival promoter.
Michael Waldron created the series and served as executive producer. Along with O’Malley and Waldron, Christopher Donnelly, Pete Segal, Patrick Walmsley, and Julie Yorn served as executive producers. Lionsgate Television was the studio.
“Run the World” followed a group of friends living in Harlem as they navigate life, careers, and relationships. Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb, and Corbin Reid led the series’ cast, which also included Stephen Bishop, Tosin Morohunfola, Erika Alexander, Nick Sagar, Jay Walker, and Tonya Pinkins.
Leigh Davenport created the series and executive produced. Rachelle Williams-BenAry joined as showrunner and executive producer in Season 2. Yvette Lee Bowser also executive produced. Lionsgate TV was the studio.
“Blindspotting” was a followup to the film of the same name. Jasmine Cephas Jones reprised her role from the film, starring in the series as Ashley. Ashley is striving for a middle class life in Oakland until Miles (Rafael Casal), her partner of 12 years and father of their son, is locked up unexpectedly.
Benjamin Earl Turner, Atticus Woodward, Jaylen Barron, Candace Nicholas-Lippman, and Helen Hunt also starred in the series. Rafael Casal appeared in a recurring role as Miles. Casal and Daveed Diggs wrote, produced, and starred in the film.
Casal and Diggs wrote the series and served as executive producers. Casal also served as showrunner. Jess Wu Calder and Keith Calder of Snoot Entertainment served executive producers on the series, along with Emily Gerson Saines, Ken Lee, and Tim Palen of Barnyard. Seith Mann also served as an executive producer and director on the first two episodes of the series. Lionsgate TV is the studio.
