ABC started cleaning house today, cancelling a number of shows on its current lineup, while picking up and passing on a number of pilots. Unfortunately for Marvel fans, the network canceledAgent Carterafter its second season, while they also passed on the proposedAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.spinoffMarvel’s Most Wanted. We reported that ABC picked upAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.for a fourth season back in March, but the fates ofAgent CarterandMarvel’s Most Wantedwas up in the air at that time.
The Hollywood Reporterreveals thatAgent Carterended its second season averaging a 1.4 rating amongst the adults 18-49 demographic, with 4.3 million total viewers in live+7 ratings. The show debuted in midsesaon for both of its seasons, filling the Tuesday 9 PM timeslot vacated byAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.during its midseason hiatus. The show’s Season 2 finale dropped a whopping 46% with 2.35 million viewers, when compared to the Season 1 finale last year which drew in 4.02 million viewers. There is a silver lining for series starHayley Atwell, though, since the network picked up her new seriesConviction.
The cancellation comes just two months after a report surfaced that the show was likely to get a Season 3 renewal, despite the sagging ratings. The second season of Marvel’s Agent Carter shifted the action from New York to Los Angeles, withHayley Atwellplaying the titular role of the unstoppable agent for the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve). Dedicated to the fight against new Atomic Age threats in the wake of World War II,Peggy Cartermust face her most dangerous assignment yet. But even as she discovers new friends, a new home - and perhaps even a new love - she’s about to find out that the bright lights of the post-war Hollywood mask a more sinister threat to everyone she is sworn to protect.
Marvel’s Most Wantedwas set to follow the adventures ofAdrianne Palicki’s Bobbi Morse, a.k.a.Mockingbird, and Lance Hunter (Nick Blood). Both characters joinedS.H.I.E.L.D.in Season 2, and quickly became fan favorites.Delroy Lindoalso signed on to star as Dominic Fortune in the spinoff.Marvel’s Most Wantedwas created and written byJeffrey Bell(Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,Angel) andPaul Zbyszewski(Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,Lost), who served as executive producers on the pilot with Marvel TV’sJeph Loeb. Both Mockingbird and Lance Hunter will likely return toAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.now that the spinoff isn’t moving forward, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
ABC also cancelled a number of other shows today such as the first-year seriesThe Muppets,Galivant,Nashville,The FamilyandCastle. The cancellation ofCastlecame after the show lost longtime series starsStana KaticandTamala Joneslast month. The network will hold its upfront presentation in New York City next week, so be sure to stay tuned for news on all of ABC’s new shows debuting in the upcoming season.
