It’s bad news for fans, of which I count myself, of Duster on Max, or HBO Max, or whatever Warner Bros. Discovery is officially calling it these days. The J.J. Abrams crime thriller has been cancelled just one week after its Season 1 finale. The series earned an impressive 92% critic score and an 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While a Rotten Tomatoes score isn’t the ultimate measure of success, it does show that Duster was well received by those who tuned in. Created by LaToya Morgan and J.J. Abrams, Duster starred Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson and had all the makings of a stylish crime saga.

The cancellation hits especially hard given how the first season ended by clearly setting up a potentially compelling second season for the series. For those who haven’t had a chance to watch the series, the entire first season is currently streaming on HBO Max. Though, we can never be certain if it will be there indefinitely, or if it will go the way of Westworld and be pulled for cost-cutting measures.

Why Was Duster Cancelled

Ultimately, it seems Duster was axed due to low overall viewership. Despite its strong critical reception, the series never cracked Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming chart. Frankly, the lack of promotion or marketing didn’t help either, it’s hard to draw in new viewers when many people didn’t even know it existed. If HBO Max hoped for a word-of-mouth boost, pulling the plug just one week after the finale hardly gave the show a fighting chance. A little more time could have let potential binge-watchers catch up after the season wrapped.

The cancellation also marks a disappointing end to a five-year journey. Duster began development back in 2020 and was the first show to actually air under Abrams and Bad Robot’s overall deal with Warner Bros., signed in 2019. Other projects tied to that deal, including Justice League Dark and the sci-fi drama Demimonde, were cancelled during development. Even the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader, executive produced by Abrams, was picked up, and then dropped by HBO Max before it eventually found a new home at Prime Video.

Considering the endless churn and confusion at Warner Bros. Discovery these past few years, it’s no wonder their strategy feels like throwing darts in the dark. If a company can’t even figure settle on a name for its streaming service, it’s hardly shocking that they’d squander the potential of a series like Duster without a second thought. But I guess it should be appreciated that the series aired and didn’t get the Batgirl or Coyote vs. Acme treatment.

Duster
Duster

About Duster

Set in the 1970s Southwest, DUSTER explores the life of a gutsy getaway driver for a growing crime syndicate that goes from dangerous to wildly, stupidly dangerous when a tenacious young agent comes into town hellbent on taking his crime family down.

In addition to Holloway and Hilson, the series also starred Asivak Koostachin, Camille Guaty-Kaye, Sydney Elisabeth, Benjamin Charles Watson, and Keith David.

Statement From HBO Max

While HBO Max will not be moving forward with a second season of ‘Duster,’ we are so grateful to have had the chance to work with the amazingly talented co-creators J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, and our partners at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. We are tremendously proud of this series led by Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson and we thank them along with our cast and crew for their incredible collaboration and partnership.

Warner Bros TV Statement On Duster

J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan delivered a thrilling, multi-dimensional crime drama in ‘Duster,’ with textured characters that took the audience back to the 1970s in a new and innovative way. Those characters were brought to life by a wonderful team led by Josh, Rachel, and an extremely talented ensemble cast, along with an expert crew behind the scenes. We are incredibly proud of the show, and while we wish this journey could continue, we are thankful to our partners at HBO Max for the opportunity to tell Jim and Nina’s story.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Sound off and tell us what you think. Are you disappointed about the cancellation of Duster?

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Source: Deadline

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