Universal Content Productions (UCP) has pulled the plug on Sam Esmail’s tv adaptation of the 1927 classic sci-fi flick, Metropolis, due to its pre-production costs and the ongoing WGA strike. The miniseries was scheduled to release on the Apple TV+ streaming platform. Deadline first broke the news.
Esmail’s overall deal with UCP included the tv series adaptation of the 1927 original film. But the series is no longer moving forward at Apple TV+. One of the UCP’s representatives confirmed this news, “Push costs and uncertainty related to the ongoing strike led to this difficult decision,” the rep said.
According to several reports, the Metropolis’ script drafts were incomplete when the WGA strike commenced on May 2. This scenario buried the show’s development process, including several pre-production procedures, like budgeting. In addition, the ongoing writers’ strike has made things complicated for UCP. The production was supposed to begin this summer.
Briana Middleton was cast as the series lead, with Lindy Booth selected for a major supporting role.
UCP was forced to consider the rising production costs due to the WGA strike. When the studio assessed the show’s production and the risk of going ahead, it decided not to proceed with the project and notified the people at Apple TV+.
In April 2022, the showrunners made an announcement about Metropolis creating over 4,000 employment opportunities. The filming was set to take place in Victoria, Australia.
Helmed by Fritz Lang, the original Metropolis came out in 1927. It is considered a pioneering sci-fi movie and is among the first feature-length films of that genre. Stay tuned for more updates.
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