HBO has officially ordered "The Nevers," a sci-fi drama series from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Joss Whedon.
Described as a sci-fi epic about a gang of Victorian-era women who have unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that could change the world, the series will mark Whedon's return to the small screen, after having dabbled mostly in film in the last few years. His last TV work was in 2013 when he cowrote and directed the pilot episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Whedon will serve as writer, director, executive producer, and showrunner for The Nevers.
The Nevers
"We have long been fans of the incredibly talented and prolific Joss Whedon and we can't think of a better project than 'The Nevers' with which to welcome him to the HBO family," said HBO programming president Casey Bloys. "We're honored that Joss chose HBO as the place to build his ambitious new world and we are excited to get started."
Whedon says The Nevers is probably the most ambitious project he's ever taken on, and that he can't imagine a better home for it than HBO.
"Not only are they the masters of cinematic long-form, but their instant understanding of my odd, intimate epic was as emotional as it was incisive... the HBO team offer not just scope and experience, not just 'prestige,' but a passionate collaboration," said Whedon.
Variety reports that acquisition of the project was met with fierce competition from prospective networks. Netflix even placed a bid to have the show on its streaming platform, but Whedon ultimately settled on the premium cable network, which is home to award-winning shows such as Game of Thrones, Six Feet Under, The Wire, True Detective, and many others.
The Nevers will be the first show solely created by Whedon since 2009's Dollhouse on Fox. He is one of the most prolific directors and creators working in Hollywood right now, with iconic projects such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Angel, and many more under his belt.
HBO vs Streaming Platforms
HBO's announcement comes after Netflix snapped its 18-year streak as the most-nominated network at the Emmy Awards, which is a massive achievement for streaming platforms in general and a blow to HBO's record. Netflix's reign at the top might not last long, however: HBO is preparing a lot of promising new works, such as a new series from J.J. Abrams called Demimonde, which will be the first thing he's written since Alias. The network is also developing an adaptation of Watchmen with Lost and The Leftovers creator Damon Lindelof.
With The Handmaid's Tale having won Best Drama Series last year — and chances are it'll will this year as well — HBO is pressured to outperform its streaming foes. For audiences, of course, that means more excellent shows than ever before.
