Deadline reports that Netflix has just cancelled the drama Messiah after one season. Will Travel, who played the character of Will Mathers on the show, took to Instagram to reveal his disappointment. You can check out his post below.
“It’s a very sad day today,” he wrote. “I have just received news from Netflix that there will be no season 2 of #messiah I wanted to say to all the fans thank you for your support and love. I wish things were different.”
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Reasons for the cancellation range from the production difficulties a second season would endure amidst the coronavirus, to the backlash sparked over some of the show’s themes and characters. The name al-Masih prompted outrage and petition to boycott the show, though said boycott never gained much traction. The Royal Commission of Jordan also requested that the drama not air in the predominantly Muslim country two days before Messiah was to debut prompting Netflix to respond with a statement:
“Messiah is a work of fiction,” a Netflix spokesperson told Deadline at the time. “It is not based on any one character, figure or religion. All Netflix shows feature ratings and information to help members make their own decisions about what’s right for them and their families.”
Messiah chronicles the modern world’s reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East creating a groundswell of followers around him claiming he is the Messiah. Is he sent from God or is he a dangerous fraud bent on dismantling the world’s geopolitical order? In ten hour-long episodes, the story unfolds from multiple points of view, including a young CIA agent, an Israeli Shin Bet officer, a Latino preacher and his Texan daughter, a Palestinian refugee and the media, among others.
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The cast includes Michelle Monaghan (Mission: Impossible — Fallout), Mehdi Dehbi (Tyrant) and John Ortiz (Silver Linings Playbook).
The series was created by Michael Petroni (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Book Thief) and brought to Netflix by Petroni and Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Burnett, MGM’s President, Television Group & Digital (The Voice, Shark Tank, Survivor and The Bible Series).
Messiah, a Netflix production, is executive produced by Petroni, who also wrote the first episode. Also executive producing are Burnett and Roma Downey (The Bible Series, Son of God, Ben Hur), Andrew Deane (Industry Entertainment) and James McTeigue (Sense8, V for Vendetta), who also serves as a director.
