New J.J. Abrams Series Is In Serious Trouble For One Reason
JJ Abrams is currently working on a new series, and that series might be in some serious trouble based on one monumental issue.
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It looks like the upcoming JJ Abrams HBO series is hitting some unexpected obstacles. It seems like the big sticking point that is preventing the series from moving forward is the budget. JJ Abrams’s Bad Robot company is staying firm at the reported $200 million budget for the series Demimonde, while Warner Bros Television and HBO are looking to bring costs down a bit.
JJ Abrams’s Bad Robot and WarnerMedia made a five-year deal where Abrams would keep his TV business and move his film business to WarnerMedia. The deal goes through to 2024. With the recent Warner Bros Discovery merger, it appears that the media giant is reassessing the deal, and both parties are amicable. However, it looks like the Demimonde budget discussions are a major hold-up and Bad Robot isn’t willing to budge on the price.
Demimonde will be written, produced, and directed by JJ Abrams, making it his first solo TV series since Alias. The show recently cast Danielle Deadwyler as the lead in the series. Kira Snyder, Rand Ravich, and Far Shariat are on board as showrunners. They also executive produce with Bad Robot’s Abrams and Ben Stephenson. Rachel Rusch Rich is a co-executive producer. Demimonde will tell the story of Olive Reed, a woman who is separated from her daughter and husband in a scientific accident. She will have to navigate a conspiracy to find them after they end up in a dark, distant world.
Danielle Deadwyler is beginning to crave a notable name for herself in Hollywood, with recent starring roles in the TV series Station Eleven and the movie The Harder They Fall. This leading role in a big-budget JJ Abrams HBO series will definitely help to make her a more household name.
For JJ Abrams, Demimonde will be his first directing effort since heading up 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The Rise of Skywalker was also his most recent writing credit, so Demimonde will be a return to form for the multi-talented Abrams. What’s likely keeping Abrams the busiest in all the producing work he has in 2022 and beyond. In 2022 alone, JJ Abrams has three producer credits for the TV shows Flushed, Constantine, and Fledgling.
Beyond 2022, JJ Abrams has a laundry list of producing credits. Some of the most significant and interesting credits on his upcoming slate include the next two Mission Impossible films, an untitled Superman project, a Batman TV show, the movie about DC magician Zatanna, a Justice League Dark movie, a Star Trek sequel, a Quentin Tarantino-directed Star Trek sequel, a live-action adaptation of the popular anime film Your Name, and live-action adaptations of the beloved video games Portal and Half-Life. These are all huge movies, many of which have only been announced with no production or casting has been done yet. So, there’s no guarantee we’ll see all of this, but it’s an exciting slate of projects regardless.
One way or another, it does appear that Warner, HBO, and JJ Abrams will get Demimonde details ironed out. JJ Abrams is a sought-after writer and producer after all. There’s no word on a release date yet, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated on the latest.
