Mar 27, 2018

Donald and Stephen Glover's "Deadpool" Animated Series Ends at FXX

FX Networks' FXX channel will not move forward with the Deadpool animated series, which was to be created and produced by "Atlanta" brothers Donald Glover and Stephen Glover.

Here is the official statement from FX:

"Due to creative differences, FX, Donald Glover, Stephen Glover and Marvel Television have agreed to part ways on Marvel's Deadpool animated series. project; FX and Marvel have an ongoing relationship through their partnership on Legion, which will continue."

When the show was announced last May, the FXX network revealed that it would give "Deadpool" a straight-to-series order of 10 episodes. No pilot had been produced beforehand, and it was a big leap of faith for the Grover brothers, who were on board as showrunners, executive producers, and writers.

A straight-to-series order without a pilot version is a favor often granted to well-known creators, but a privilege rarely granted to seasoned and experienced industry artists. This is yet another symbol of mainstream Hollywood's disregard for animators, where inexperienced celebrities who think they can make animation are valued more highly than already accomplished animators.

Of course, the current situation shows how straight-to-series orders can backfire: this is the second recent straight-to-series animated show for 21st Century Fox-owned FX that was canceled before the first episode aired. The other was "The Cops," which ran into an impasse after co-creator Louis C.K. admitted to years of sexual harassment.

Deadline notes that Disney-owned Marvel TV and ABC Studios can still produce projects, with or without Glovers.

UPDATE: Donald Glover has released a satirical Deadpool script on Twitter in response to FX and Marvel's decision not to proceed with the Deadpool project. He criticized Disney-owned Marvel as a company that is "trying to sell toys to a 7-year-old boy and a 50-year-old pedophile."

The "script" also includes the following line from Deadpool: "I feel like everybody wants something different, but nobody wants to do anything different to get it. Is Marvel missing a feel-good minority show that everyone supports but doesn't watch?"

pic.twitter.com/TrLGKmG740

- donald (@donaldglover) March 28, 2018