Why Was HBO Max’s ‘Gossip Lady’ Reboot Canceled?

Primarily based on the YA novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, the CW’s drama collection Gossip Lady was like a puzzle within the mid-2000s, as viewers desperately tried to determine the id of its nameless antagonist: Gossip Lady. All through the present’s six seasons, Gossip Lady works arduous to make the lives of wealthy Higher East Aspect teenagers depressing, routinely exploiting their secrets and techniques on a sadistic weblog.

The unique present — which stars Penn Badgley (You) and Blake Vigorous (The Shallows), amongst others — bought the reboot remedy in 2021. From creator Josh Safran, who served as a author and govt producer on the OG collection, HBO Max’s Gossip Lady follows a brand new technology of New York non-public college teenagers as they expertise the wrath of Gossip Lady through fashionable social media.

It was introduced on Jan. 19, 2023, that HBO Max is not going to be transferring ahead with a 3rd season of Gossip Lady. So, why was the extremely anticipated reboot canceled? That is a secret we’ll by no means inform. Simply kidding. Maintain studying to seek out out!

“We’re very grateful to showrunner/govt producer Joshua Safran, and govt producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz for bringing us again to the Higher East Aspect and all of the scandals at Constance Billard,” an announcement launched by HBO Max reads.

“Though we’re not transferring ahead with a 3rd season of Gossip Lady, we thank them for the engaging love triangles, calculated backstabbing and impeccable vogue this collection delivered to a brand new viewers.”

Although the revival began off sturdy in July 2021, “setting a report as HBO Max’s most-watched opening weekend for an unique collection on the time,” per Deadline, viewers misplaced curiosity by the point the second season hit the streamer.

In line with the publication, HBO Max has been engaged on cost-cutting for the final six or so months. Nonetheless, Gossip Lady getting the ax might don’t have anything to do with this.

Deadline wrote that the cancellation is probably going “a results of the present not with the ability to escape the way in which HBO Max’s revival of one other YA collection, Fairly Little Liars, has carried out.” This appears to be extra of a hypothesis than a reality.

In an interview with Vainness Honest, Josh Safran opened up concerning the devastating information, revealing that prices have been a issue. Ah, so cash does have one thing to do with the Gossip Lady cancellation. It all the time does, does not it?

“This present is extremely costly. ‘It takes some huge cash to look this good,'” he started.

“And so it actually would’ve needed to have gotten Home of the Dragon numbers or Final of Us numbers and there simply aren’t reveals like Gossip Lady that get these numbers,” Josh continued.

Although evaluating Gossip Lady to different reveals does not appear productive, we perceive the frantic seek for reasoning.

There’s some hope that Josh and his staff will discover the present one other streamer, as he wrote in an announcement that they “are at the moment in search of one other dwelling.” Nonetheless, he feels that this will fail. Josh Safran appears to be a bona fide realist.

“On this local weather, which may show an uphill battle, and so if that is the top, at the least we went out on the very best of highs. Thanks all for watching, and I hope you’ll tune into the finale subsequent Thursday to see the way it all comes collectively. xoxo,” he wrote.

You’ll be able to watch Seasons 1 and a couple of of Gossip Lady now on HBO Max, with the Season 2 finale (and collection finale) dropping on Jan. 26.