Variety has confirmed that Hulu’s space-drama, The First, has been cancelled only after one season. The strictly online web series, was helmed by playwright Beau Willimon, who was also responsible for the development of the American adaptation of House of Cards, in which he also served as showrunner for the first four seasons.
Actors Sean Penn and Natascha McElhone starred in the series, with the series being Penn’s first starring television role. The series was set in the distant future and followed the first human mission to Mars, the astronauts responsible, and their families’ lives. Rey Lucas, Hannah Ware, LisaGay Hamilton, Keiko Agena, and James Ransone, all rounded out the supporting cast.
Westward Productions, an independent film and television studio founded by Willimon and his producing partner Jordan Tappis, initially produced the series. Later it was jointly commissioned by the famed English network Channel 4 and Hulu.
Although the series recieved an approval rating of 68% on the review website Rotten Tomatoes, ultimately it received mixed reviews upon its release. According to Daniel D’Addario’s review in Variety, “after the initial statement of purpose, though, the show falls victim to both pacing problems and a certain lopsidedness.
A show like this, with title and premise centered around what it would mean to be a pioneer on a new planet, encourages an excited sort of stargazing; that quite so much of it is spent exploring Hagerty’s family crisis saps the energy and spirit from a show that should have both in spades.”
Below the series’ first official teaser can be viewed: