HBO canceled The Time Traveler’s Wife after just one season.
The show, which was an adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger’s bestselling book, only launched on May 15, but the network saw it clearly enough to end the time after just six episodes.
The Time Traveler’s Wife followed Clare as Rose Leslie and Henry as Theo James, a couple whose relationship is complicated by Henry’s condition, a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel frequently and unpredictably, leaving Clare behind.
Steven Moffat, best known for his work on Doctor Who and Sherlock, adapted the series for HBO, while David Nutter, who has been behind the camera on some of Game Of Thrones’ most iconic episodes, served as lead director.
In a statement to Deadline (opens in new tab)An HBO spokeswoman said: “While HBO is not moving forward with a second season of The Time Traveler’s Wife, we were privileged to partner with master storytellers Steven Moffat and David Nutter. We are so grateful for your passion, hard work, and care in adapting this beloved book. We also thank Theo and Rose, and the rest of our brilliant cast for their heartfelt performances, which completely captivated the audience.'”
The show’s finale aired just 12 days ago, and Moffat was talking about plans for more, saying TV line (opens in new tab): “There’s enough juice in the book for more than just one season. But at the same time, I’d still call it a limited series because it can’t last forever. It has to stop. We already know a little bit about how it ends. destiny story, I think. The end is built into the beginning.
Unfortunately for him, the end will be after just six episodes.
Why did HBO hang up?
The show’s audience couldn’t have been big enough, which wasn’t helped by the show’s reviews, which were downright appalling.
It holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 38% (opens in new tab) with reviewers pouring into Moffat’s plot, dialogue, and a book they almost universally labeled unfilmable.
There was some solid evidence to support this too…
Analysis: Some books just don’t work on screen…
In fact. This is the second time it has been put on film.
The book was picked up for a movie by Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B Entertainment before it was even released, with Warner Brothers backing it with the promise of a lavish adaptation. In the end, the adaptation ended up being ill-fated. Stephen Spielberg and David Fincher expressed interest in taking over, but never did. Gus Van Sant was attached for a while and then left. Finally, Robert Schwentke, the man behind the colossal RIPD and action thriller Snake Eyes, has been hired.
The result, starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, was an expensive mess, made after a production filled with endless reshoots and last-minute rewrites. Critics hated it too. And ironically, has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 38% (opens in new tab)as well as the HBO adaptation.
An ironic twist for a story that was supposed to correct the mistakes of the original adaptation. Some books are best left to the imagination of their readers.
We’ve picked another five books that need the miniseries treatment after a failed movie, you can review our picks here.
