There's Still Hope for Heels After Shocking STARZ Cancellation
It appears the show might make a comeback.
Stephen Amell, undeniably one of the most gifted leading men currently working in television, joined Starz's wrestling-themed show Heels after an impressive 8-year stint on Arrow. The move was met with great enthusiasm from his fans, who were eager to see their favorite actor take on a more serious dramatic role. The first season of Heels was a resounding success, leading many to believe that the network had found a new hit show with this wrestling drama.
However, just days after the second season of Heels ended on a huge cliffhanger, Starz executives abruptly announced the show's cancellation. The decision was attributed to low viewership numbers and high production costs, which made the show an unprofitable venture for the network.
Fandom’s Fury
Needless to say, the unexpected cancellation of Heels left its fans in shock. They argued that with more seasons, Heels could have evolved into one of the best dramas on television and attributed the show's low ratings to inadequate marketing by Starz.
In response to the fans' backlash, both Amell and showrunner Mike O'Malley reassured them that Heels was far from over. They revealed that they were actively looking for a new platform for the drama. Although the likelihood of a different streaming platform picking up the series was initially doubtful, the resolution of the WGA strike and the opportunity for the writers to make a strong pitch for a new home for Heels have significantly increased the chances of the show's return.
'I really do think it's going to have a life someplace else. We did not intend, nor do we intend, for the season 2 finale to be the last episode of the show,' O'Malley said.
The thing is, though, that given the high production cost of Heels, it remains unclear whether any network would be willing to pick it up for a third season despite its dedicated fanbase. Some fans have even directed their frustration towards O'Malley, arguing that he should not have ended Season 2 on a cliffhanger, seeing how he knew Starz's producers were dissatisfied with the show's financial performance.
Source: Entertainment Weekly.