While this news is unlikely to generate the outpouring of shock that Batgirl's cancellation received, it's been confirmed (via ActioNewz.com) that Netflix has pulled the plug on Grendel despite having already shot most of the first season.
Based on the Dark Horse comic book of the same name by Matt Wagner, Grendel, a.k.a. Hunter Rose, is an assassin and crimelord who, in the early 90s, actually starred in a crossover with Batman. After heading to New York City to avenge the death of a lost love, he goes to war with the Big Apple's underworld, only to realise...why beat them when you can join them?
What was to be an eight-episode TV series looked to serve as the anti-hero's live-action debut, and the project was first announced last September.
Since then, Supernatural executive producer Andrew Dabb had been tapped to serve as showrunner, while Abubakr Ali was cast in the title role, with Kevin Corrigan as Barry Palumbo, Julian Black Antelope as Argent, Emma Ho as Stacy Palumbo, and The Flash star Andy Mientus as Larry Stohler.
Ali looked set to be the first Arab Muslim actor to star as the lead of a comic book adaptation, but for reasons that aren't entirely clear, Netflix has chosen to scrap the project. While Grendel hadn't entirely finished shooting, it was very nearly done, so the streamer must have decided it simply wasn't worth continuing.
This may not be it for the show, however, as the producers do have the option to shop it elsewhere. Assuming it's not horrendously bad, we can't imagine why a streamer or network wouldn't jump at the chance to finish the show off after Netflix bore the brunt of the costs, adding a pretty decent-sounding comic book series to their library.
Mientus has shared his brutally honest thoughts on what's happened, and you can read his statement in full below. We'll keep you updated on this one in the coming weeks.