After reviewing the effects of seven months of production shutdowns due to the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes — which ended a month and half ago and one week ago, respectively — Netflix has announced that several series will not return for additional seasons. These include the adult animated comedies Agent Elvis, Farzar and Captain Fall.
Also impacted were the live-action YA fantasy adaptation Shadow and Bone and Glamorous, about a queer makeup enthusiast (Miss Benny) making their dreams come true under the wing of a famous beauty mogul (Kim Cattrall).
In addition to other factors, the streamer evaluated the series’ performance against cost to reach its decisions, according to a report from Deadline. Despite the impact of the strikes across the entertainment industry, the platform has continued to announce new animated projects and renewals across its adult animation and kids’ & family divisions.
Based on the life and secret operative dreams of rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, Agent Elvis (10 half-hour episodes) sees The King trade in his white jumpsuit for a jet pack when he is covertly inducted into a secret government spy program to help battle the dark forces that threaten the country he loves — all while continuing his superstar day job.
Created by Presley’s widow, Priscilla Presley, rock singer John Eddie and Mike Arnold, the show features Matthew McConaughey as the voice of Elvis (also an exec producer on the project), starring alongside Kaitlin Olson, Johnny Knoxville, Niecy Nash, Tom Kenny and Don Cheadle, with guest appearances by Fred Armisen, Jason Mantzoukas, Baz Luhrmann, Gary Cole, Ed Helms, Christina Hendricks, Simon Pegg, Craig Robinson, George Clinton and more. Production companies were Titmouse and Sony Pictures Animation.
Captain Fall had been picked up for 20 episodes, to be released in two parts, but will not continue beyond Part 1 (premiered in July of this year). Created by Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen (the duo behind Viking send-up Norsemen), the absurdist dark comedy/crime drama centers on a wet-behind-the-ears, yet good-hearted sea captain who unwittingly finds himself at the helm of a smuggling ship for a terrible international cartel, an unwitting fall guy in case the authorities ever catch up to them.
The voice cast is lead by Jason Ritter as Jonathan Fall, with Christopher Meloni, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Anthony Carrigan, Alejandro Edda, Adam DeVine, Trond Fausa, Christopher McDonald and Bebe Neuwirth. The show was produced by Writers & Models and Netflix Animation, animated by Princess Pictures’ Boulder Media.
From Brickleberry and Paradise PD creators Roger Black and Waco O’Guin, Farzar (10 episodes) premiered in July of 2022. The show is described as an outrageous sci-fi comedy that follows Prince Fichael and his crew as they venture out of their domed human city to fight the evil aliens that want to kill and/or eat them. As they begin their journey, Fichael quickly discovers that all is not what it seems and he may be living a lie.
The show features the voices of Dana Snyder, Lance Reddick, Kari Wahlgren, David Kaye, Jerry Minor, Carlos Alazraqui and Grey DeLisle. The half-hour comedy was produced by Damn! Show Productions, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment and Fox-owned animation studio Bento Box Entertainment.
