‘Beacon 23’ Cancelled By MGM+ After 2 Seasons; ‘The Winter King’ Also Not Returning
Beacon 23 has been cancelled after two seasons by MGM+ while the freshman series The Winter King will not return to the Amazon streamer after it was axed by ITVX in the U.K., Deadline has confirmed.
Beacon 23, based on the best-selling book by Hugh Howey, is a sci-fi psychological thriller starring Lena Headey and Stephan James as Aster Calyx and Halan Kai Nelson, respectively, two people brought together by fate at the end of the known universe. Aster, a government agent, and Halan, an ex-military man, find themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that serve as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers.
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Every Beacon is run by one highly trained human and a specialized Artificial Intelligence. Aster mysteriously finds her way to the lonely Beacon-keeper Halan, and a tense battle of wills unfolds. Halan begins to question whether Aster is friend or foe, as her ability to disguise her agenda and motives could make her a formidable opponent.
The Zak Penn-created series also starred Barbara Hershey, Stephen Root, Natasha Mumba and Jess Salgueiro, among others. Season 1 premiered last year and its following dropped in April.
Produced by Boat Rocker, Zak Penn and Glen Mazzara served as executive producers alongside David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, James Middleton, Nick Nantell, Tina Thor, Katie O’Connell Marsh, Elisa Ellis, Liz Varner, Ira Steven Behr, Daniel Percival, Joy Blake, Lena Headey, and Stephan James.
The Winter King is set in the fifth century, long before Britain was united, in a brutal land of warring factions and tribes, where lives were often fleeting. The series follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast to legendary warrior and leader
The series stars Iain De Caestecker as Arthur Pendragon, alongside Eddie Marsan as High King Uther, Ellie James as Nimue, Nathaniel Martello-White as Merlin, Stuart Campbell as Derfel, Daniel Ings as Owain, Valene Kane as Morgan, Jordan Alexandra as Guinevere, and Simon Merrells as Gundleus.
Executive producers Kate Brooke and Ed Whitmore adapted Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles. Julie Gardner, Lachlan MacKinnon, and Jane Tranter also EP with Sherry Marsh. Shelley Browning and Kenneth L. Browning are also executive producers. The drama is produced by Catrin Lewis Defis for Bad Wolf, in association with One Big Picture. Sony Pictures Television distributed The Winter King worldwide. The series aired in the U.K. on ITVX.
TV Line was first to report the cancellation news.
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