The latest series to end prematurely due to COVID is Showtime’s On Becoming A God in Central Florida. According to Deadline, the premium network has decided not to pursue a second season of the dark comedy due to concerns with the coronavirus. The series had been renewed in September of 2019.
“Last year, Showtime renewed On Becoming A God In Central Florida but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we were unable to move forward with production on the new season,” the network said in a statement, via Deadline. “The pandemic has continued to challenge schedules across the board, and although we have made every effort to reunite the cast and crew for second season, that has become untenable. It is with great regret that we are acknowledging On Becoming a God will not return,” representatives from Showtime said, via Deadline.
Starring Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia, All Good Things), On Becoming A God In Central Florida centered on the cutthroat market of pyramid schemes as a road to achieving the American Dream, via Deadline. Dunst played Krstyal Stubbs, a blue-collar worker who becomes obsessed with excelling in the very scam that left her broke. Dunst’s co-stars included Theodore Pellerin (Family First, Boy Erased), Mel Rodriguez (Onward, The Last Man On Earth), Beth Ditto (Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot), and Ted Levine (Monk, The Silence of the Lambs). The series was created by Robert Funke (The Labyrinth) and Matt Lutsky, who also served as executive producers.
“We extend our deepest thanks to star and executive producer Kirsten Dunst, creators Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky, showrunner Esta Spalding and their fellow executive producers George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Charlie McDowell, the terrific cast and crew, and our partners at Sony Pictures Television,” Showtime stated via Deadline.
According to Deadline, the show had resumed taping of the second season in March, but production was halted as the coronavirus began to spread. The cast was paid for season two prior to the cancellation. This is the latest show casualty in series of abrupt cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances caused by the threat of COVID. Earlier this week, Netflix announced its female-led wrestling series, GLOW, would not be returning for its already greenlit fourth season. The streaming service also axed teen drama The Society and genre series I Am Not Okay With This after their initial seasons. And TruTv canceled the third season of its comedy, I’m Sorry.