ABC Has reversed course on a sophomore season of the Colbie Smulders-starring detective series Stumptown.
Although the series had received a second season renewal, the network has now reversed its decision, reportedly stemming from dissatisfaction with the creative direction that new showrunner Monica Owusu-Breen had pitched them.
According to the Hollywood Reporter –
Sources note that the reinvention for season two didn’t come in as well as executives would have liked. Production on season two had not yet started in L.A., meaning ABC would not have had episodes ready to air until April at the earliest. That was later than the fall launch that ABC executives originally intended for the series. While Stumptown was owned in-house at ABC Signature, it was still an expensive series to air late in the season when many lower-cost “midseason replacement” shows typically launch. All told, it was a lack of creative steam, late delivery and high price tag were all factors that ultimately led to the drama’s cancellation. ABC is expected to announce return dates for its fall drama offerings soon.
Based on the graphic novel series created by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth, Stumptown starred Smulders as Dex Parios, a former Afghanistan vet suffering from PTSD and is now a down on her heels Portland private detective. The series debuted last September with positive reviews and it earned enough of an audience that it would become just one of only two dramas from ABC’s 2019-20 freshman class to earn a second season.
