Say goodbye to The Get Down.
While Project Casting was one of the first news outlets to report the open casting call for lead roles in the TV series, it is ironic to say that The Get Down is getting canceled.
Debuting last summer, with the second half of season 1 premiering in April, The Get Down was set in New York City during the late 1970s and focused on the rise of hip hop experienced by a group of teens. Production has problems from the onset. In fact, the show’s original showrunner Shawn Ryan departed early on and filming was shut down several times. In addition, it was Netflix’s most expensive series ever at a reported $120 million to produce.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, co-creator Luhrmann explained why it was “unlikely” that The Get Down would return to production “in the immediate future.”
“When I was asked to come to the center of The Get Down to help realize it, I had to defer a film directing commitment for at least two years,” he said. “This exclusivity has understandably become a sticking point for Netflix and Sony, who have been tremendous partners and supporters of the show. It kills me that I can’t split myself into two and make myself available to both productions. I feel so deeply connected to all those who I have worked and collaborated with on this remarkable experience.”
That said, he did suggest a possibility of the show heading in a new direction. “All sorts of things have been thrown around for the future… even a stage show (can you imagine that? I can, concert version anyone? Next summer? Just saying.),” he wrote. “But the simple truth is, I make movies. And the thing with movies is, that when you direct them, there can be nothing else in your life. Since The Get Down stopped, I have actually been spending the last few months preparing my new cinematic work.”
Luhrmann has been optimistic about a second season. He told The Hollywood Reporter, “We have great plans moving forward.” He did say he would be taking a step back because of other commitments. “I’ll be hands-on to the extent that an uncle would be, as opposed to a father figure,” he noted.
